Toy situation...is It Just at My House?

I think that's typical. I know there are lot of moms who pack away some of there toys to rotate. This then allows the kids to not be overwhelmed by the selection - since they play only with a few things anyways - and it's like they have new toys when they rotate in the packed away toys and put away the others for awhile. My son (8) definitely goes through phases of what are the key things he plays with - while other stuff sits unused. =-)

Absolute,
that is very normal. Just let him be. And if you want to you can ask him to pick those toys that he doesn't want so you can donate them to other kids that don't have any. He may just find only O. :) to give away!
Blessings

I think the same thing - and then I look at my house and all MY "toys" that I use only once or twice a year, not to mention the stuff that used to use but haven't touched in years. It helps keep perspective.

O. thing I do when *anything* is at max capacity is called zen toys. (or similar) that means O. toy in = O. toy out. Another example, I do 'zen sweaters' because I LOVE sweaters and would have way too many otherwise. It will even keep me from buying something if I like my current sweaters better than what's in the store.

Oh yes! I didn't read the other responses, but now that my kids are 5 and 6, I take toys and hide them in the basement for a few months (including O. or two favs)... then I'll bring them out on a rainy day and swap them out for some other toys. Things that are absolutely ignored I either sell on craigslist, donate, or give to other friends with children. I also periodically ask my kids to go through their toys and make a pile of the stuff they don't play with anymore... they're really good about getting rid of stuff. It used to hurt my feeling and make me mad when they'd bring something to me and say they don't want it (especially if I bought it!) but I got over that REAL quick! Best wishes!

My kids go thorugh phases in which they are like that. I use those opportunities to lighten the load. Right now they play with a good variety of their toys, though. They did agree to get rid of some toys at the beginning of summer so I am getting those items ready for the upcoming Snuggle Bugs sale.

Yes! And just when I am ready to throw out the "old ones" (meaning give them away) they suddenly become prized posessions that cannot be removed from their clutches!!! I think kids get into ruts with toys. It takes us parents to get them excited about a toy that has been neglected for a while and if even I can't get them excited about it again, I talk them into letting it go.
Not sure what you are hoping to get out of this, but maybe have him help you organize a yard sale if there are plenty that he could part with...

Yes! Here's what's been working for us...

-Take a box full to a friend's house and "trade" them for 3 mos. You'll get some new fun toys for your son for "free" (on a 3 mo loan).

-Go through his toys before EVERY birthday or big holiday (like Christmas). Bag up what's too babyish and donate them, throw out what's broken or missing pieces. This helps make room for the new stuff.

-What he doesn't play with often or is tired of (for now), hide them in the basement then bring them out again in 6 mos.

-Next birthday or holiday ask close friends and family for parts to a "set" he likes - like Legos, Matchbox cars, Magic School house books, arts and crafts supplies, etc. Then you can get a big rubbermaid container to keep all the parts to the "set" together in O. box instead of having 15 completely different toys to store.

Yes and my daughter and I just recently had a talk about going through things so we can donate things she no longer plays with. She's really loving the idea that someone less fortunate can benefit from her stuff. She is a helper.

Before she could understand the idea of donation, my husband and I would go through all of her stuff after any birthday or Christmas to do the out with the old and in with the new.

Edit to add- Someone mentioned their own "toys". We go through our grown up stuff too. Same time we go through the kids stuff. They see that and they see that we donate our stuff too.

Yup, my son plays with the same 4 or 5 toys all the time.

I guess it is kind of like me and my clothes. I have a closet full of clothes and I wear the same 3 pairs of jeans and 5 shirts over and over and over again!

I don't think it is just at your house. My 9 year old is pretty single minded when it comes to what she plays with. She will show interest in other things but once we have them home, the interest is short lived. I really don't have a problem with it, my oldest son was the same way about toys, he had his favorites and never branched out very far from the core interests, until he discovered video games, then it was trying to limit his game time so that he would include other things. My youngest will fixate on O. thing for a week or two then move on to something different, he is still young enough to be easily distracted and want to play what others are playing though. I think it is all very common and nothing to be concerned about. When the kids were younger I did try and rotate out toys so they seemed new and exciting, but I never packed away the "favorites" Also it can help to designate certain areas...we keep board games and puzzles on a shelf in the kitchen and play at the kitchen table. 7 is a great age to expand his interests, they have some really cool kits at the craft/hobby stores like Michaels...everything from craft projects to science projects, and don't forget to involve your son in the kitchen, boys like to cook and bake too, heck most of the world renown chefs are men = ) Take care, sounds normal to me as compared to my house!

When they are at the park with my husband or at school, I take a rubber maid and fill it with the toys they haven't played with in awhile. Then I wait to see what is asked for. If they mention it I'll get it, when they aren't looking. If they don't mention it, I either get rid of it, or I set it aside for a rainy day. Then when we are stuck in the house on a rainy day, or with snow I'll go pull out these "hidden games/toys." It gives them something to help pass the time.

ssshhh! I secretly get great pleasure throwing away unused and unwanted toys. Don't tell my kids though. Oh, and yes sometimes I give them to other children, but that isn't near as fun.

girl yes, and it feels like such a waste of money!

My kids go to their dads every other weekend which is when I "downsize" their rooms. I get rid of all the stuff they don't play with. They haven't missed anything! Also, I have a big tall hot pink laundry basket in our closet for Goodwill. The kids know that if they don't like or want something (clothes too) any longer to put it in there and when it's full, hubby loads it up and takes it over. It also helps not to have things with so many pieces. I just try to stay on top of it and keep only their very favorite things. Good luck!

Absolutely! We get so caught up in being "good parents" and giving our kids what we didn't have for Christmas and birthdays and then the children are overwhelmed.

I have a triplet mom friend who has a great idea for the little ones. She takes half the toys and puts them in plastic bins and puts them in the garage and leaves the other half for them to play with. Then in a month or so she trades out and packs up the toys in bins and brings the others out so they get excited and feels like they've got a whole set of new toys. You can wait longer until you see them bored with toys.

What I'm going to do is start nipping it in the bud in the beginning and start buying less toys at Christmas and birthdays. They will not like it at first, and it'll be hard on me with the guilt, but they'll get used to it. I'm thinking O. special gift and the rest inexpensive gifts like Hot Wheels and such.

Have a toy sale every fall when people are starting to buy Christmas gifts. With the low economy, more people are buying used toys to save money.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisburgPAChat
events and chat within 2 hour radius

My daughter and son-in-law rotate the toys, putting at least 2/3 of them up in a closet. The current favorites are spared. Every 2-3 months, they switch for some others. Keeps the toys "fresher" for my grandson, and fewer toys to scatter around. He actually seems to appreciate his toys more and play with them more imaginatively when there are fewer to choose from.

And yes, there are certain favorites that can hold that status for a year or longer.

Hi, Denise:
Thanks for sharing this. Ask your son to help you go through his toys and games and pack up the ones he does like and let him donate them to a women's shelter.
Good luck. D.

Ditto here. I do what I did when he was a baby. I pack up the older/nonplayed with ones and put them in attic. when I get the request for "something new" i bring down the container and he pulls out the "new" items and I just rotate :)