Unwanted Gifts

[fireheart]

BUT! He has given us permission to give away what we don't want. So, we're going to sort through the unwanted gifts carefully, keep some, and donate some.

(Most of the time, I think he's just trying to be a generous grandpa. He's also sent some really awesome stuff that we've all enjoyed, so I can't complain too much.)

This is a good compromise. When the kids get older, maybe start encouraging them to do a toy/clothing cleanout and donate it to charity.

[sms001]

start encouraging them to do a toy/clothing cleanout and donate it to charity.

And not just for toy aversion! Many of the people who have a lot of clutter in their lives start like this - Don't throw/give that away, it means X loves you. All too often encouraged by the giver as well. If it's well understood throughout a family that you're not going to start weighing your children's lives down with possessions, gifts tend to be more thoughtful. Not to mention giving to charity encourages selflessness as well.

[MoonCat]

Maybe your dad would like to buy and donate some toys to a children's hospital or the children's ward of his local hospital. They probably have a list of things he could shop from.

What about Toys for Tots & other such charities? At this time of year, there are always groups that collect toys for sick or underprivileged kids.

[Gravekeeper]

Teach your kids HOW to think not WHAT to think. The wooden toys will last the plastic ones won't-give your kids credit to figure that out on their own rather than trying to fight a pointless battle based on just a dislike for marketing.

To be honest, I ended the lives of just as many wooden toys as I did plastic toys as a kid. The only thing moderately safe was die cast Hot Wheels. >.>

Though, my humble opinion here is that it would be better to teach children what marketing, etc is, what its trying to do and how to deal with it. Rather than just avoid it all together. Also, and this may sound weird, but no character themed toys means no character role models to look up too. Especially these days when certain shows and movies have great role model characters.

When I was I kid the characters were rarely as deep. Not that it kept me from looking up to Optimus Prime or Leonardo. <cough>

[fireheart]

And not just for toy aversion! Many of the people who have a lot of clutter in their lives start like this - Don't throw/give that away, it means X loves you. All too often encouraged by the giver as well. If it's well understood throughout a family that you're not going to start weighing your children's lives down with possessions, gifts tend to be more thoughtful. Not to mention giving to charity encourages selflessness as well.

That's kind of what I was going towards with my comment last time.

My local secondhand store sends out bags periodically to encourage people to fill them up with whatever stuff they don't want (toys, clothing etc.) before leaving it out for the people to collect or taking it into the store themselves. Any profit from the clothing goes towards Diabetes SA, which makes things a bit better for someone like me who does not like donating money to my local church.

As for the marketing fears, a friend of mine has a daughter. She has done her best to discourage merchandise-driven lines in the house (as in shows created FROM toy lines ie Pokemon, Strawberry Shortcake...the stuff that's more blatantly toy-driven), although she allows things that aren't as toy-heavy (Ben 10 for example she has no problem with)

[Kiwi]

Does he spend time at his grandparents house?

My family had a rule (something I will continue) that the grandparents kept a bunch of stuff for us to play with. Maybe the majority of stuff is for Grandpa's house.

Otherwise donate. We had a big clear out every November of toys. The gently used stuff was donated and the damaged stuff was tossed out. It was a good way to keep the mess to a minimum.

[fireheart]

Does he spend time at his grandparents house?

My family had a rule (something I will continue) that the grandparents kept a bunch of stuff for us to play with. Maybe the majority of stuff is for Grandpa's house.

Otherwise donate. We had a big clear out every November of toys. The gently used stuff was donated and the damaged stuff was tossed out. It was a good way to keep the mess to a minimum.

The other trick I've heard from a number of sources (this will work more for Baby Shirts, as opposed to little shirts) is to have certain boxes of "toys". One is kept out for them to play with, the others are stored away/at Grandparents houses. Every few weeks or so, the toy boxes are rotated so the toys seem "new" to the kids.
This might work more with Baby Shirts.

[cashierbex]

So far it is not toys that we are worried about with my niece. Its clothes. Her Nana keeps buying more clothes. The parents have told her no more clothes. We aren't even that picky. It winds up getting unused and donated.

[HawaiianShirts]

Though, my humble opinion here is that it would be better to teach children what marketing, etc is, what its trying to do and how to deal with it. Rather than just avoid it all together. Also, and this may sound weird, but no character themed toys means no character role models to look up too. Especially these days when certain shows and movies have great role model characters.

I never thought of it that way before. I may have to mention this to Mrs. Shirts. I think picking a few specific characters (with Little Shirts' help, of course) would be a good idea...

Does he spend time at his grandparents house?
...
Otherwise donate. We had a big clear out every November of toys. The gently used stuff was donated and the damaged stuff was tossed out. It was a good way to keep the mess to a minimum.

He does spend time at their house, but they're far away, so it's only once a year or so. More often, they'll come to visit us and stay in a hotel or condo. We've also tried the toy clear-out thing, but it hasn't worked yet. I think he's not quite ready for that, but it's definitely something we're encouraging. He sees us sort through our massive book collection about once a year and get rid of books we no longer want (usually by trading them in at a local used book shop we like).