http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201 If you read the title and you have kids, you probably already have an idea of what I'm going to ask:&nbsp; what do you do with all the toys kids accumulate???? Toys, toys, toys, they're everywhere!&nbsp; I know it's time for a sifting through, but how do I approach the kiddo with that idea?&nbsp; What do you do? Also, how do you help your children learn to put toys away, and are you able to get your kiddos to put them back in the right place? Are your kiddo's toys organzized, or&nbsp; do you just throw them all in the nearest toy box? Do you have your kids choose what goes, or does a &quot;toy fairy&quot; come in the night and clean things out that the kids won't miss? I know some people rotate toys.&nbsp; I do like the idea.&nbsp; It would be great to bring out a &quot;new&quot; box of toys every few weeks, but that's not going to happen in our house - I'm not that organized, and we don't have that much room for storing boxes of toys.&nbsp; I also love the idea of a play room, but we don't have room for that, either.&nbsp; And the kiddo's room is not nearly large enough to hold all her toys.&nbsp; Hence we have toys in her room, the den, the living room, and outside.&nbsp; What has worked for you?&nbsp; If you read the title and you have kids, you probably already have an idea of what I'm going to ask:&nbsp; what do you do with all the toys kids accumulate???? Toys, toys, toys, they're everywhere!&nbsp; I know it's time for a sifting through, but how do I approach the kiddo with that idea?&nbsp; What do you do? Also, how do you help your children learn to put toys away, and are you able to get your kiddos to put them back in the right place? Are your kiddo's toys organzized, or&nbsp; do you just throw them all in the nearest toy box? Do you have your kids choose what goes, or does a &quot;toy fairy&quot; come in the night and clean things out that the kids won't miss? I know some people rotate toys.&nbsp; I do like the idea.&nbsp; It would be great to bring out a &quot;new&quot; box of toys every few weeks, but that's not going to happen in our house - I'm not that organized, and we don't have that much room for storing boxes of toys.&nbsp; I also love the idea of a play room, but we don't have room for that, either.&nbsp; And the kiddo's room is not nearly large enough to hold all her toys.&nbsp; Hence we have toys in her room, the den, the living room, and outside.&nbsp; What has worked for you?&nbsp; en-us <p>we donate toys every year before Christmas because we know the kids are going to get a whole new round of toys from the grandparents.&nbsp; There's just not room to keep them all.&nbsp; We don't try for too much organization.&nbsp; Gotta pick your battles.&nbsp; If the toys end up in the vicinity of where they are supposed to be, we all go to bed happy.&nbsp; We've started a routine where the kids have to pick up their rooms before they go to bed, so that the next day we can start in some degree of clean.&nbsp; It seems to be catching on.&nbsp; Now if I could only apply it to myself and clean our room, we'd be getting somewhere.</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265198 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265198 <p>we donate toys every year before Christmas because we know the kids are going to get a whole new round of toys from the grandparents.&nbsp; There's just not room to keep them all.&nbsp; We don't try for too much organization.&nbsp; Gotta pick your battles.&nbsp; If the toys end up in the vicinity of where they are supposed to be, we all go to bed happy.&nbsp; We've started a routine where the kids have to pick up their rooms before they go to bed, so that the next day we can start in some degree of clean.&nbsp; It seems to be catching on.&nbsp; Now if I could only apply it to myself and clean our room, we'd be getting somewhere.</p> <p>i'm a toy rotator.&nbsp; i got extremely ambitious one time and found myself at lowe's buying closet organizers, shelves, and plastic boxes.&nbsp; i organized everything and most of it is out of reach from the little man.&nbsp; thus,&nbsp; i pull out a box every week or so then we put it back and pull out another one.&nbsp; it works well for us.</p> <p>oh yeah, we also stopped buying so many toys!!&nbsp; that helped too!&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265272 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265272 <p>i'm a toy rotator.&nbsp; i got extremely ambitious one time and found myself at lowe's buying closet organizers, shelves, and plastic boxes.&nbsp; i organized everything and most of it is out of reach from the little man.&nbsp; thus,&nbsp; i pull out a box every week or so then we put it back and pull out another one.&nbsp; it works well for us.</p> <p>oh yeah, we also stopped buying so many toys!!&nbsp; that helped too!&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Toy rotators impress me beyond words. Now that I think about it, you impress me in many ways, Heather - toy organization, creative writing, culinary skills (baking) - wow.</p> <p>Kevin, I like the idea of donating before Christmas.  I do find myself storing things the kiddo outgrows (toys and clothes) for our next child.  I really need to be pickier about what I save. </p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265303 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265303 <p>Toy rotators impress me beyond words. Now that I think about it, you impress me in many ways, Heather - toy organization, creative writing, culinary skills (baking) - wow.</p> <p>Kevin, I like the idea of donating before Christmas.  I do find myself storing things the kiddo outgrows (toys and clothes) for our next child.  I really need to be pickier about what I save. </p> <p><span style="color: #008080">When we were in the midst of moving and packing, we did a lot of donating and cleaning out of old toys.&nbsp; Whatever was&nbsp;still a good toy, we donated to the&nbsp;preschool if appropriate.&nbsp; If we had&nbsp;clothing or other toys that were appropriate for Jamison Children's center or the homeless center, those went there.&nbsp; Finally, we had a HUGE yard sale!&nbsp; Some things went easily - some went with tears.&nbsp; I explain regularly to the kids that there are those less fortunate, homeless, abused, or just unable to afford things that&nbsp;we have been&nbsp;blessed with.&nbsp;&nbsp;I began&nbsp;that with the first and&nbsp;keep it going....I really&nbsp;want my kids to understand that things are not just&nbsp;handed to us - and that we need to consider sharing&nbsp;with those less fortunate.&nbsp;</span></p> <p>On the area of organization....we had a toy room when the boys shared a room.&nbsp; That changed when we moved and the oldest chose his own bedroom.&nbsp; So, we have toys separated and they do tend to travel here and there....when&nbsp;it gets too bad - we purge or do a major &quot;clean&nbsp;up&quot; and&nbsp;get things back in order....then the play can resume!&nbsp; My oldest loves legos and the youngest has a Thomas the train fetish.&nbsp; So, I went to Big Lots and bought&nbsp;the big rubbermaid bins that are clear and we put each&nbsp;thing in a drawer - this has been a process of training the kids to clean up at home like at school.&nbsp; They are pretty good about picking up and helping around the house - especially if I&nbsp;offer a reward to&nbsp;them&nbsp;- like&nbsp;a special treat, playdate, or allowance if they make their beds daily, keep their rooms clean, etc.&nbsp; Finally,&nbsp;I think you just&nbsp;have to put your foot down and stop buying toys....I agree with Kevin and Heather - choose your battles and find what&nbsp;works for you!&nbsp;</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265346 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265346 <p><span style="color: #008080">When we were in the midst of moving and packing, we did a lot of donating and cleaning out of old toys.&nbsp; Whatever was&nbsp;still a good toy, we donated to the&nbsp;preschool if appropriate.&nbsp; If we had&nbsp;clothing or other toys that were appropriate for Jamison Children's center or the homeless center, those went there.&nbsp; Finally, we had a HUGE yard sale!&nbsp; Some things went easily - some went with tears.&nbsp; I explain regularly to the kids that there are those less fortunate, homeless, abused, or just unable to afford things that&nbsp;we have been&nbsp;blessed with.&nbsp;&nbsp;I began&nbsp;that with the first and&nbsp;keep it going....I really&nbsp;want my kids to understand that things are not just&nbsp;handed to us - and that we need to consider sharing&nbsp;with those less fortunate.&nbsp;</span></p> <p>On the area of organization....we had a toy room when the boys shared a room.&nbsp; That changed when we moved and the oldest chose his own bedroom.&nbsp; So, we have toys separated and they do tend to travel here and there....when&nbsp;it gets too bad - we purge or do a major &quot;clean&nbsp;up&quot; and&nbsp;get things back in order....then the play can resume!&nbsp; My oldest loves legos and the youngest has a Thomas the train fetish.&nbsp; So, I went to Big Lots and bought&nbsp;the big rubbermaid bins that are clear and we put each&nbsp;thing in a drawer - this has been a process of training the kids to clean up at home like at school.&nbsp; They are pretty good about picking up and helping around the house - especially if I&nbsp;offer a reward to&nbsp;them&nbsp;- like&nbsp;a special treat, playdate, or allowance if they make their beds daily, keep their rooms clean, etc.&nbsp; Finally,&nbsp;I think you just&nbsp;have to put your foot down and stop buying toys....I agree with Kevin and Heather - choose your battles and find what&nbsp;works for you!&nbsp;</p> <p>Layton &quot;graduated&quot; out of Thomas trains to real model trains, which are more fun for me and we work on them together.</p> <p>We just had Layton's birthday a couple weeks ago and as we were going through his closet, we realized there were several unopened toys from Christmas...&nbsp; never played with.&nbsp; Crazy.&nbsp; Jill and I don't buy toys anymore.&nbsp; We haven't for years, but between birthdays and christmases, we still get flooded with them.</p> <p>Anyone have any ideas on how to stop that?</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265372 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265372 <p>Layton &quot;graduated&quot; out of Thomas trains to real model trains, which are more fun for me and we work on them together.</p> <p>We just had Layton's birthday a couple weeks ago and as we were going through his closet, we realized there were several unopened toys from Christmas...&nbsp; never played with.&nbsp; Crazy.&nbsp; Jill and I don't buy toys anymore.&nbsp; We haven't for years, but between birthdays and christmases, we still get flooded with them.</p> <p>Anyone have any ideas on how to stop that?</p> <p>We have a makeshift play room (which is really just the formal living room at the front of our house that we never had any furniture for) where I try to keep their toys. It is a mess most of the time. I try to keep things off of the floor, but I'm starting to think I need to organize or throw out some of this stuff. I have started to weed out the toys that they are too old for or never play with. I have a box going of that stuff which will probably go to Goodwill. Every so often the kids find the box in my closet and want to play with what's inside, so I think toy rotating would probably work well here. I just need to organize my closets a bit better for that.</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265389 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265389 <p>We have a makeshift play room (which is really just the formal living room at the front of our house that we never had any furniture for) where I try to keep their toys. It is a mess most of the time. I try to keep things off of the floor, but I'm starting to think I need to organize or throw out some of this stuff. I have started to weed out the toys that they are too old for or never play with. I have a box going of that stuff which will probably go to Goodwill. Every so often the kids find the box in my closet and want to play with what's inside, so I think toy rotating would probably work well here. I just need to organize my closets a bit better for that.</p> <p>what about game systems?&nbsp; Is anyone to that stage yet?&nbsp; I'm avoiding that as long as I can.&nbsp; My parents bought a Wii for the kids to play at their house and I've already learned I have to put time limits on it or Layton will play 27 hours a day.&nbsp; Plus they are so expensive (and really a rip-off when you consider where technology is today).</p> <p>I have to force my kids to play outside.&nbsp; Between the internet and tv, they would stay inside all day.</p> <p>Layton did get a cool toy for his birthday.&nbsp; It's a &quot;Bug Vacuum.&quot;&nbsp; It's a little hand-held blow dryer looking thing that you put little containers on the end of.&nbsp; Then you suck up bugs and it traps them in the containers to looke at.&nbsp; Great idea for little boys. He's already caught lots of spiders and beetles and stuff I've never seen before.&nbsp; Jill is less than thrilled when he brings them all in the house, but I figure that when he loses in the house, the cats will have fun with...</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265436 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265436 <p>what about game systems?&nbsp; Is anyone to that stage yet?&nbsp; I'm avoiding that as long as I can.&nbsp; My parents bought a Wii for the kids to play at their house and I've already learned I have to put time limits on it or Layton will play 27 hours a day.&nbsp; Plus they are so expensive (and really a rip-off when you consider where technology is today).</p> <p>I have to force my kids to play outside.&nbsp; Between the internet and tv, they would stay inside all day.</p> <p>Layton did get a cool toy for his birthday.&nbsp; It's a &quot;Bug Vacuum.&quot;&nbsp; It's a little hand-held blow dryer looking thing that you put little containers on the end of.&nbsp; Then you suck up bugs and it traps them in the containers to looke at.&nbsp; Great idea for little boys. He's already caught lots of spiders and beetles and stuff I've never seen before.&nbsp; Jill is less than thrilled when he brings them all in the house, but I figure that when he loses in the house, the cats will have fun with...</p> <p>Something I started with family...give the boys savings bonds&nbsp;(or contribute to their college funds).... I think that's more worthwhile anyway, and it will keep the toys off the floor!&nbsp; However, the kids still get so many toys for birthdays and other holidays.&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;don't mind&nbsp;a few toys; but, it seems like overkill when they are strewn&nbsp;from one end of the&nbsp;house to the other!&nbsp; I have tried to encourage one toy,&nbsp;with a donation to the savings fund!&nbsp;&nbsp;Computer&nbsp;games are the big fascination for my oldest.&nbsp; I don't mind if they play educational type stuff...but, I do have to limit the time on the&nbsp;computer or they will&nbsp;be there all day!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kevin,&nbsp;save the unopened toys for the Toys for Tots drive, or donate them to the kids&nbsp;in Foster Care this year!&nbsp;&nbsp;Or, you could also &quot;re-gift them&quot; to other kids in another family....just a few suggestions.&nbsp;</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265514 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265514 <p>Something I started with family...give the boys savings bonds&nbsp;(or contribute to their college funds).... I think that's more worthwhile anyway, and it will keep the toys off the floor!&nbsp; However, the kids still get so many toys for birthdays and other holidays.&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;don't mind&nbsp;a few toys; but, it seems like overkill when they are strewn&nbsp;from one end of the&nbsp;house to the other!&nbsp; I have tried to encourage one toy,&nbsp;with a donation to the savings fund!&nbsp;&nbsp;Computer&nbsp;games are the big fascination for my oldest.&nbsp; I don't mind if they play educational type stuff...but, I do have to limit the time on the&nbsp;computer or they will&nbsp;be there all day!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Kevin,&nbsp;save the unopened toys for the Toys for Tots drive, or donate them to the kids&nbsp;in Foster Care this year!&nbsp;&nbsp;Or, you could also &quot;re-gift them&quot; to other kids in another family....just a few suggestions.&nbsp;</p> <p>My kids also have too many toys. Like the others, most of the toys come from loving grandparents. We've suggested other things in place of toys, but it hasn't done any good. They like to buy "fun" things for the kids.</p> <p>With my 20 month old, I rotate toys. I put some in containers and rotate. I also get rid of them when he is sleeping. I did this with my daughter too until she was old enough to understand donating. She now goes through her own things and decides what to get rid of.</p> <p>We have toys all over the house. In our living room I have a bouncy seat and activity gym for the baby. My 20 month old has a tub of toys and a play tent filled with balls. Because he isn't able to play well unsupervised, I like having his toys in there. There are also some toys in our den/office, so when I am working he can play nearby. Then of course all of the kids have toys in their rooms. I figure the time will fly by that they are actually playing with toys. My daughter stopped wanting toys at about age 8. She still likes Webkinz, but she's pretty much outgrown other toys.  I don't care if they are in each room. We do try to keep them organized, but our house definitely looks like a kid house.</p> <p>With toys, we also have books in every room. All of our kids like to read, so they each have a bookshelf in their rooms and we have baskets of books for the little ones in the living room.</p> <p>My daughter now has a Wii. She is ten. She loves it and so does my husband :) At least she has to move to play it and so far she hasn't wanted to play ALL DAY! I agree she should play more outside, but right now with the air and heat it is hard.</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265544 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29201/#c_265544 <p>My kids also have too many toys. Like the others, most of the toys come from loving grandparents. We've suggested other things in place of toys, but it hasn't done any good. They like to buy "fun" things for the kids.</p> <p>With my 20 month old, I rotate toys. I put some in containers and rotate. I also get rid of them when he is sleeping. I did this with my daughter too until she was old enough to understand donating. She now goes through her own things and decides what to get rid of.</p> <p>We have toys all over the house. In our living room I have a bouncy seat and activity gym for the baby. My 20 month old has a tub of toys and a play tent filled with balls. Because he isn't able to play well unsupervised, I like having his toys in there. There are also some toys in our den/office, so when I am working he can play nearby. Then of course all of the kids have toys in their rooms. I figure the time will fly by that they are actually playing with toys. My daughter stopped wanting toys at about age 8. She still likes Webkinz, but she's pretty much outgrown other toys.  I don't care if they are in each room. We do try to keep them organized, but our house definitely looks like a kid house.</p> <p>With toys, we also have books in every room. All of our kids like to read, so they each have a bookshelf in their rooms and we have baskets of books for the little ones in the living room.</p> <p>My daughter now has a Wii. She is ten. She loves it and so does my husband :) At least she has to move to play it and so far she hasn't wanted to play ALL DAY! I agree she should play more outside, but right now with the air and heat it is hard.</p>