A year without toys

Dh and I have decided that we need to downsize. Our children are spoiled rotten. We are placing a ban on all new toys. Until October of 07 we will not be purchasing nor will we allow any toys as gifts for any of the children. We are swarming in excess. I believe that overindulgence encourages narcissism and I’m beginning to see some of these undesirable traits in the children. They have so much stuff they are losing enjoyment of simplicity. I understand that this isn’t their fault. They don’t ask for nor do they expect toys or candy when we shop. They don’t get “just because” presents. But we have too much. Ten years of toys is extreme.

The children are taking the news amazingly well. At first, they seemed concerned asking numerous questions. Will Santa still come? Can we still have birthday parties? Are costumes toys? After I explained that they can still get gifts that aren’t toys and that they need to be creative in what they ask for, they embraced the idea. I suggest having a book birthday party. On the invitations we could request books instead of toys. Or they could have a canned food drive asking their friends to bring food for the poor. I’ve asked the extended family to consider gifts of "family passes" for things like museums, aquariums, zoos, and rock climbing. Or perhaps they could get tickets to the circus or a play. Joey is hoping for a Civil War artifact or another reenactment for Christmas. The girls would like to take some arts and craft classes. The babies will be the hardest to buy for. Yet they have the most. We have an entire bedroom in the basement filled with the "under age three" toys.

We are also going to start purging some of the excess. How many Barbie’s does on family need? Ten ? Twenty-five? How about forty-seven? Yikes how did we end up with 47??? How many K’nex, Lego, Lincoln Log and actions figure sets is too much? What ever the answer is I know we have exceeded it ten-fold. We have a game room which includes pool, ping pong, foosball and air hockey tables, a K'nex roller coaster and farris wheel, two racecar tracks and a corner table covered in Lego sets. And we have a "playroom" with all the other crap that doesn't fit anywhere else.

I’ve recently began purging my own stuff. The ARC took away 6 bags of my clothing and tons of crap I no longer needed. :) I already feel so free.

I've added some pictures of our stuff.

This photo screams "too much"!


Here is one corner of the baby room missing are all the Little People sets that now reside upstairs in baby jail.

the main playroom