tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post5424595522398255147..comments2023-07-22T03:40:53.311-04:00Comments on The Year of Less: Day 33: Purging the Children's ToysKelly Oribinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16490289723982475014noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-45930604426903100292012-08-27T16:32:05.370-04:002012-08-27T16:32:05.370-04:00We do 4 gifts too, for Christmas and for birthday&...We do 4 gifts too, for Christmas and for birthday's. Want, Need, Wear & Read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-61420213521641849802012-08-26T18:21:10.919-04:002012-08-26T18:21:10.919-04:00Like Megan, we also give 3 gifts (but on Christmas...Like Megan, we also give 3 gifts (but on Christmas like Vanessa). We continue to celebrate Christmas through Epiphany. We put Jesus in the manger on Christmas, and then our wise man travel throughout our house, gradually coming together.<br /><br /> LibbyPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-88152915025282975952012-08-24T15:31:11.726-04:002012-08-24T15:31:11.726-04:00Boy, do toys multiply! We have an almost 3 year o...Boy, do toys multiply! We have an almost 3 year old and a 7 mo old and toys are everywhere. It is driving me nuts and I need to declutter big time. I've been stuck with how to do it since Kid B might not like what Kid A likes and I want to keep toys for different ages, blah blah blah. Thanks for the inspiration!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05107082377737779115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-13485353088800469732012-08-24T01:48:08.014-04:002012-08-24T01:48:08.014-04:00Yes! And I think Day 24 (?) on sentimental items c...Yes! And I think Day 24 (?) on sentimental items can relate to this question as well - you are the gatekeeper to your home and if the person giving the gift wanted control over what happened to that item, they would have held onto it. <br />Be free! Let go of the guilt! :) Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01875834913316556128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-78771131940046892012012-08-24T01:44:37.528-04:002012-08-24T01:44:37.528-04:00Like Megan, we just started doing the 3 gifts (but...Like Megan, we just started doing the 3 gifts (but on Christmas, not Epiphany) representing the 3 gifts from the magi and each one has a specific purpose/theme behind it. Plus they get TOO MUCH STUFF from extended family with our kids being the ONLY grandkids on BOTH sides of our family. <br />Luckily, we're in Africa for 2 years so getting gifts to us has been a little bit trickier and we've enjoyed 1 simple Christmas so far. 1 more on the way this December!Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01875834913316556128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-4121896895482178772012-08-24T00:13:04.893-04:002012-08-24T00:13:04.893-04:00I think you could start small. Only decide on what...I think you could start small. Only decide on what toys in one basket to keep. It would be great if you could do it all in a day, but that may be a little overwhelming for your kiddo. <br /><br />Good Luck!Amber Rhodeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06777827748835150642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-557249413528781022012-08-23T21:52:41.565-04:002012-08-23T21:52:41.565-04:00Also- I love the idea of getting everything out. ...Also- I love the idea of getting everything out. It helps to organize and give perspective on how much we have!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-79212018202684860762012-08-23T21:51:37.644-04:002012-08-23T21:51:37.644-04:00We frequently encounter this. I try to take a pic...We frequently encounter this. I try to take a picture of my child playing with the toy, send it on with a thank you note, then let go of the guilt if we pass that toy on in a few weeks or months. We've had enough conversations with family members about our lack of storage AND our general philosophy on toys (less is more) that I have stopped feeling guilty when we don't keep the toys around for very long. I want to keep the balance of being grateful, but also being okay making decisions that are best for our family. <br /><br />If we kept everything we had been given for our three kids, we would have no room to actually live. (Only slightly kidding...).<br /><br />Just my two cents!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-46384463902685253362012-08-23T21:29:53.445-04:002012-08-23T21:29:53.445-04:00could i bother you w/a question? what do you do w/...could i bother you w/a question? what do you do w/toys that are given as gifts that are large/make obnoxious noises/or just dont jive w/overall toy philosphy of the home....i try to keep toys that span multiple ages....having a 5,3 and 2 year old and expecting our 4th and living in a farmhouse w/limited storage i try to keep things simply...we love blocks/trains/books/etc....but i hate to offend a mother in law or friend if they come over and dont see the toy they "gifted". thanks!! jenniAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-9802069039422796112012-08-23T19:50:45.715-04:002012-08-23T19:50:45.715-04:00I definitely think that kids should help as soon a...I definitely think that kids should help as soon as they are able...that way it will be normal, not tragic for them. I also think it's important, as somebody else has said, to focus more on what he's keeping instead of what he's getting rid of. Set limits for him....asking "do you want to keep this, or this?" is a good way to do it at this age. Kelly Oribinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16490289723982475014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-55173622151748487352012-08-23T19:32:58.529-04:002012-08-23T19:32:58.529-04:00Love the 'when in doubt throw it out' poli...Love the 'when in doubt throw it out' policy. I had a weeding policy that was similar, 'when in doubt, pluck it out'. I'll have to institute that for kids toys too. Thanks for sharing. I have been enjoying your "year of less" and hope to incorporate a lot of ideas into my life as well.controlling crazinesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765705464414070156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-40090959007881623002012-08-23T19:11:24.273-04:002012-08-23T19:11:24.273-04:00Here's a question for you (& your dear rea...Here's a question for you (& your dear readers!), at what age would you start going through their toys with them? Our son is 3 and seems to want to keep EVERYTHING! I can pull out an old toy & for the next month or 2 it will be the new favorite! My husband goes through his stuff when we're gone & tosses/donates stuff. I don't like this b/c he doesn't know what our son plays with a lot of the time & it's maddening to search for something that is no longer there! <br /><br />So, what age do you start & how do you go about it? I'm not sure reasoning/explaining would mean a lot to him right now.. but we need to start somewhere! <br /><br />Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions! :) <br /><br />~JMJ~ +JMJ+noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-84505149891080358442012-08-23T18:29:27.033-04:002012-08-23T18:29:27.033-04:00Speaking of Christmas. We don't give any gifts...Speaking of Christmas. We don't give any gifts on Christmas (except those from grandparents). The birth of Jesus is the gift and being with each other going to midnight Mass and a special meal.<br /> Instead, we give three gifts to each child (we've four little ones so far)on Epiphany just like the wise men gave a total of three gifts. Cheers!Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856650914294188584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-69514955008257930382012-08-23T18:26:44.419-04:002012-08-23T18:26:44.419-04:00We've been purging our home for the past month...We've been purging our home for the past month & my daughter's room is no exception. Initially, I was going to purge without her home but ultimately decided it would be best to involve her in the process. A great decision! She loved it! A couple of things that helped. 1. I would ask her what she wanted to keep, instead of asking what she wanted to get rid of. 2. She knew where things were going. Some to a cousin in need, some to charity, some to her preschool & some to consignment. 3. She's watched us get rid of things & has heard our conversations regarding the positivechanges that have been made.<br /><br />Since clearing out more toys, she is less overwhelmed, more imaginative, plays in her room more, cleans her room(!!!) without being asked. It's been great.<br /><br />Honestly, we've been purging her room for a long time & I thought she already had a scaled back amount of toys but I can truly say Less is More!Missyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03209570813683511283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-44892039557749050822012-08-23T17:54:47.067-04:002012-08-23T17:54:47.067-04:00I really like your Christmas philosophy! May I ste...I really like your Christmas philosophy! May I steal it!? I was trying to think of a way to limit Christmas this year as well, and really hadn't thought of a way to plan it out. I was just going to buy way less but....i love the 4 categories!!!!Miranda Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-87381735413113863552012-08-23T17:31:30.355-04:002012-08-23T17:31:30.355-04:00Awesome post. I have been following your blogs and...Awesome post. I have been following your blogs and we are de-cluttering the kitchen Friday night.(What a great way to enter the Sabbath) And we are heading for the toy bin on Saturday afternoon. This Christmas we are also adopting a four gift per child policy (one item they want, one they need, one to wear, and one for fun)! I am looking forward to that, we have 4 kids (3,2,2,and 6 months). I told my DH this morning less is more, now I am adopting "when in doubt, throw it out". <br />Mochamomof4https://www.blogger.com/profile/17363581133405046623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-74346077610838587772012-08-23T17:11:25.180-04:002012-08-23T17:11:25.180-04:00Love this post! The toys in our house (2 kids unde...Love this post! The toys in our house (2 kids under 5) are overwhelming. I really need to do a major purge. Kudos to you guys. I like the idea of getting the kids involved.Shannonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936689144576366026.post-76873463848145117662012-08-23T17:02:09.491-04:002012-08-23T17:02:09.491-04:00Love this. I only have one child so far and don...Love this. I only have one child so far and don't buy her any new toys (and only a used toy once in a blue moon), and they're still multiplying! Reading "Simplicity Parenting" early on has impacted my philosophy on this so much. Way to go today. :-)Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05525118565790143413noreply@blogger.com