waverly , the textbook style are like the giant science of body, horse encyclopedia, type books.
I am assuming that human anatomy and horse stuff doesn't change. But my rule for that kind of stuff is keep for reference unless the information is outdated and then get rid of. For textbooks that get outdated quickly (computers for example), I would say nothing older than 2 years.
The only way we’ve been successful in purging is to let C keep the money from any toys we sell. We have an active B/S/T site and do neighborhood yard sale days fairly regularly. Selling old toys and using the $$ for new stuff (usually Legos or video games) works pretty well.
I agree that I’d keep enough for your kids, especially your 4yo, to still play with, and do what you can to encourage free play on weekends or school breaks. It’s hard with schedules, I get it.
We are in this right now and on a purging spree. Kids are 8 and 5. We juts got ride of a bunch of big things: play kitchen, M&D grocery store, Encanto house, another dollhouse, etc. The bigger things we’ve been able to sell and recoup a little money, but it is painful to me because some of it is not very old. Like PP said, some gifts I bought them last year they are already done with and it makes me wonder why I bother. They still play with some toys and they want more stuff for Xmas so we need to make space. I agree that DD2 has graduated to older toys faster than DD1 which is probably because of the older sibling influence. For example, I’m surprised she was done with the kitchen, etc but H was right, they never played with it and it is really nice to get the space back.
I’m trying to be more minimal this year with presents. Just one or 2 big ones, some craft/activity kits and stockings. Hopefully quality over quantity will work.
I also have a policy of not buying a lot of books, particularly for DD1 (chapter books). She reads so fast and doesn’t really reread books so we get them from the library. A friend gave us a box of chapter books and they just take up space. I will probably sell or buy nothing them and DD2 can just use the library. We have a nice collection of picture books that’s she’s reading now, I’ll downsize to just sentimental ones once she’s in elementary school.
ETA: we will see if we regret it. I’m slightly worried because winter is coming and we will be stuck home a lot more and I’m worried we will miss the toys. But they’ll get new stuff and I think the novelty of older stuff does wear off. DD1 loved that grocery store at 5, she played with it a ton! DD2 has pretty rarely played with it, probably because it’s always been there and her sister was done with it. So yeah, I think purging old stuff is a good idea. I’ve tried to do the hide and rotate out thing suggested here before and it is too much work for me. We have an active buy nothing group, so I don’t feel too bad about passing things on since I know someone else is enjoying them.
How do you purge books? We've purged all the toys down long ago, but DD has 3 full bookshelves full of books; picture books, early chapter books, easy chapter books, textbooks, and then her middle school read books that she is currently reading.
I take all the really good condition picture books to DS' school for the kinder teachers to add to their classroom libraries.
Post by gerberdaisy on Nov 14, 2023 10:01:11 GMT -5
My kids are fine with getting rid of toys, but its just such a pain to do! No one wants things on buy nothing and I hate trashing. We'll give the good stuff to my nephew, try to get rid of what we can, but can't stand the waste.
My kids aren't big on toys anymore, DD (9) has never been, and DS(6) is into legos and sometimes hot wheels, but thats about it. Board games and other games continue to be a hit though.
Now if I could just convice my MIL to stop buying them...
How do you purge books? We've purged all the toys down long ago, but DD has 3 full bookshelves full of books; picture books, early chapter books, easy chapter books, textbooks, and then her middle school read books that she is currently reading.
I take all the really good condition picture books to DS' school for the kinder teachers to add to their classroom libraries.
Oh yes, this reminded me. Things we can't give away on Buy Nothing we donate to DD2's daycare. They have been pretty happy to take anything we give them, toys and books.
Last year we did a huge toy purge after Christmas. Just put everything out on our curb which is a busy-ish street. My 4 year old thought it was so much fun to take stuff out to the curb. He started trying to bring out the toys he does play with and put those on the curb too.
Post by polarbearfans on Nov 18, 2023 19:07:36 GMT -5
Less is more. My daughter plays with her toys more when she is not so overwhelmed by options. It also helps to get rid of the screens. She played with her toys daily and created more art when we had a no screen time on school nights rule, and limited on weekends. it was a hard transition at first, but led to better sleep.
I have the hardest time because my oldest just turned nine, and my youngest is 17 months (with two kids in between), so I feel like I need to hold onto things even if the older kids have outgrown them because they younger two might play with them eventually.
I do try (and mostly fail) to rotate them. Lately I’ve been getting rid of things with broken/missing pieces, and plan to buy new if it’s something the little kids will play with.