Children grow out of their toys. While parents would like to get rid of toys that have been unused for years to make room for new things that are appropriate for the child's age, children are emotionally attached to their old playmates and are rarely willing to part with them. It is wrong to simply take away a child's toys; they must be willing to part with something themselves and voluntarily. 

 

 

Depending on how old and mature the child is, you can talk to them about donations. The thought that their toys will live on and bring joy to another child helps many children with the separation. In any case, parents should be honest with the child and talk openly about their feelings and thoughts. The idea of giving the old teddy bear to a child who doesn't have one usually works well, as it gives the child a positive feeling about the separation by making someone else happy.

 

Parents should not ask a child to drastically part with everything they have not used for years. Instead, they can give the child the opportunity to choose a certain number of toys from all their toys that they want to part with. 

 

For parents, it often just looks as if some toys have gone unnoticed for years. You shouldn't make the mistake of giving things away behind the child's back, because at some point the child will remember the things they thought they had forgotten and justifiably feel betrayed. 

 

If a child does not want to give up certain toys under any circumstances, they should not be forced to do so. It is better to let some time pass until the child makes the decision themselves.

 

 

Nothing works better than a good example. Parents should therefore hand in their own unused items and ideally let the child take part in the process. If the parents have piles of things lying around, the child cannot be expected to sort out their toys. 

 

Sorting out toys to give away shouldn't be a funeral. On the contrary, it can be really fun! The moment tears start to flow or you become frustrated as a parent, it's time to take a break or postpone the endeavour to another day. Also, if your child bursts into tears at the thought of parting with a particular toy, remember that they are not yet of the age to do so. Many children don't play with their things for a long time and rediscover them years later.

 

Never put the child under any pressure when it comes to making such decisions. This also means that the child should take the time it needs to ensure that the separation is voluntary. 

 

A good option is to tell your child shortly before Christmas that they should make room for new toys. The prospect of new things makes it easier for many children to decide to part with old toys. 

 

It is also best not to give away the selected toys immediately, but to store them in a box for the time being in case the child suddenly changes its mind. Perhaps picking out the unused toys has led to a new discovery and the child now wants to play with them again.

 

Donations and gifts give a good feeling. The child should therefore feel proud and appreciated when they have made another child happy. However, nothing is nicer than hearing from your own parents that they are proud of their child.