I know that Chloe has toys, too many toys really and with the holiday season coming up I know that she'll get more (though I've requested that family give something small and not go overboard). I've also seen it posted here that others have the same problem (either with a toy overload or being given too many on top of that).
A and I have talked about during the holidays having her choose some toys to give away before getting more and I wonder if she's too young to understand it, or if it's a good time to start seeing that she won't notice some toys missing. I want her to want to give and share her toys with others, especially since she likes any toy so having so many is a waste, and I don't want her to feel like she needs a million things to be happy.
Do any of you "regift" or donate older toys around the holidays?
I am going to this year, but I dont think i will involve Eric because he wouldnt understand anyway. I think it is a great idea though, especially if your daughter can understand what she is doing.
Recently Lyic and I went through her "younger" toys and clothes and donated them. I told her some kids don't have the same stuff she does, especially with the hurricanes this years. We also went to the build-a-bear workshop and stuffed a bear that was being donated to kids from the hurricane. She understood and was excited about it.
Every kid is different, but I don't think she's too young.
For my kids it has always helped if I tell them specifically who the toys are for, that way they feel like they are helping a neighbor or a child in another (specific) place.
I think it's a great idea. We have always done this. Now that my children are a bit older, I take them to the soup kitchen to help out during the holidays.
My aunt does this with her kids...
Another thing she'll do is they get SOO much.. that she'll hide some new stuff and give it to them at later times as rewards... but each time they get a new toy, they have to give one away!!!
My aunt does this with her own stuff too.. if she gets a new outfit, new shirt, she gives one away...
I will be getting rid of all the toys/clothes she has outgrown in the next couple of weeks to the women/childrens center we have here. That way, all the kids that may not be able to get gifts will get some. I know that the season is shouldnt be about gifts but for us togetherness but she is too young to understand that now. When she is older she will help me take them to others. Plus every year I have done the angel tree thing, where you get a child and they have gifts that they would like written down so you buy them and put them under the angel tree. A can help me participate in that in a couple of years.
the first time i did this with noah, i didn't really even intend to make it about a big lesson, i just didn't have anyone to watch him when i went down there so i had him on my hip and a garbage bag of his old stuff in my hand. we were at a women's shelter, and the woman who met us at the door was so into him (well duh, he's adorable) and was saying things like "aren't you a good boy for sharing your toys! what a nice boy you are! that is very good of you to share your toys! good boy!" and whatnot. he was grinning like crazy, and for a while after that, if we had someone over he'd give them a toy and then just grin, like ok you can praise me for sharing now! he was about 2 at the time, but i know it made an impression on him, and the whole "wow sharing is great and cool and makes me feel good!" thing is pretty invaluable at that age :P
AShleykins-I like th idea of giving something away each time you get something new. That would definitely help keep my mess under control. I've actually gotten pretty good about gradually collecting stuff to donate; we have a box in a closet and I put stuff in it like clothes or toys my son's outgrown. Then when it's full we go together and donate it.
This Christmas, I told Reily (my boy) tthat he can make two lists: a Santa list and a family list, but he can only put 5 things on each. At first he was upset, thinking that was all he would get, but when it came to making the list, he found that he didn't have five things on either list, and he was ok with it. It helped him see that the number of gifts isn't what's important.
And as for spreading the goodwill...we made two shoeboxes for our church to donate to Operation Christmas Child. That was perfect for a young child, because the things that go in the box are small and often easy for young children to help pick out. We are also going to take cookies to a shut-in member from out church. Just be creative...there are plenty of opportunities year-round to involve your daughter in, and it's never too early to start! They might not understand exactly why you're doing it, but they catch on to the giving/sharing idea pretty young, and I think the attitude of giving itself can really have a lasting effect.
I know Tavin is quite a bit older than Chloe and I don't think he would understand "okay we're going to give toys to other kids, so you need to pick some you don't want anymore". I don't think he'd get that at all...maybe just pick out stuff she is too "old" for or doesn't play with often? I mean you could try the helping thing but I know Tav wouldn't get it yet.