How many toys should a child have?!

Personally, we don't keep toys around if they're not played with. The kids each have a toy box, and a handful of other stuff on shelves, but overall, NOT much. I have one friend who has a basement FILLED with boxes of toys packed away, and her son's room is packed with so many toys you can't walk through- not to mention a toy box in the living room. Before, it wasn't a big deal, they had a playroom for him. Now, they have a new daughter, and she has the old playroom, so the toys are just exploding from that house.

I would simply recommend getting rid of toys that are broken, toys your children no longer use, and maybe finding some tubs to better organize the left over toys. Compromise between getting rid of most of them, and getting rid of none, ya know? With tubs, you can pack some of the toys away, and swap them out from time to time, so the kids aren't bored with them.

Each of our kids has a rubbermaid tote for their toys. If it doesn't fit in the toy box, we sort out the toys, and if it's not being played with, it's donated to Goodwill or thrown away, depending on the condition of the toy.

thank you for your opinions. well my twins have a few peek a block items.. the block,wagon, elephan , dump truck..also they have the play wall and the laugh and learn house thingy.. they are 2 1 /2 now.. so i was thinking letting those things go.. its hard because they still like them.. but i like the idea of storing some toys away and switching them so often.. ill probably do that. I just gave a way some toys..but they were small odd toys.. i didnt even make a dent!

too many is too many!

but for the move, familiar things around like old toys might help them with the transition - as long as they're in good enough shape.

ok.. maybe the bulky ones "i might" yeah i think there is nothing wrong with having the toys.. he just hates kid or baby stuff around the house.. like when we had bouncers, swings ect..he didnt want them..he said we didnt need them :(

From the child perspective: when i was a kid, of any of my toys got thrown away without me suggesting it, I flipped out. Then again I am a hoarder LOL
If you do decide to cull the heard of toys, make sure you let your kids help out and pick what ones they want to keep. Or better yet try to get them to pick out say five or ten toys they think less fortunate children may enjoy playing with. When it is put into that perspective, kids are more willing to part with their stuff than just to 'get rid of it'

yeah ive gotten rid of dolls before..my daughter had so many ..i told her they are for a little girl that doesn't have any babies.. she understood

I think getting rid of 95 percent of the kids' toys are way to drastic, and I honestly think your children will feel like they are being punished, and I have the feeling they will always remember this.

I have actually told myself that after my little niece comes to stay with us for two weeks in November, I will go through the toys with my boys 18 months and 5, and pick out some toys that are just taking up room.

Then we will freecycle it, as a lot of the stuff they have has been freecycled to them when we moved here with nothing but one suitcase full of toys for the both of them.

I really do think it is a good way to go through the stuff ones in a while (once or twice yearly) and part with what they no longer plays with. Give it to someone less fortunate, and you will teach your children the art of giving. Make sure your kids are involved in the decisions though.

I would donate the toys that your children no longer play with or have outgrown. And toss out the broken ones.

We do this atleast twice a year and the kids are involved too!

NONE! - Ok I am not that mean but I am at a stage I hate toys!

hehe yeah dj cant stand toys.. i am getting rid of some.. well trying to that is..

I think that 95 percent is a bit to much but I agree with getting rid of the toys that your kids don't play with anymore or that often.

I think my kids have too many toys (well my boy anyways...) but my husband thinks that they don't have enough. He isn't the one helping pick up at the end of the day LOL!

yeah im not getting rid of most of them like he thinks..it would break their hearts i think. im getting of some though..

birdee... wow thats a switch.. yeah it should be up to you since you pick them up lol

I think 95% is drastic too.
Things they never ever play with or have outgrown I'd get rid of.
If a lot has to go because of room I'd pick and choose very carefully.
You never know what they might want to play with tomorrow.

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I think 95% is a little much too! but having the kids pick toys they don't play w/ and donating is a good Idea. allow them to choose the ones that they give away & keep - they feel that it is their choice & they are the big shot now_

like I should talk-we have 2 bedrooms & a toyroom filled to the brim w/ toys- I need to clean house, but I also have a daycare from home & can't just throw away what they don't use anymore. I may need it down the line

yeah great ideas. yeah i thought about watching kids.. imagine bringing the baby stuff back into the house.. without us having babies..that would drive him nuts lol

i always clean out before christmas and birthdays except for the every day toys

yeah i still need to do it..waiting on being able to afford toy boxs for the bed room..im doing 2 in the boys (3 share a room) and 1 in my daughters.. and thats it..once they are filled the rest goes.. but the prob is affording the boxes

how many toys should a child have? hmm, i don't think there is an answer for that one.

yeah

i wish i could!

wrong person to ask