When do the toys go away?

[gris gris]

1/2 our basement is buried in toys. What age do kids stop playing with them? My kids are little (DD4 & DS 3 months) so I know it will be a while but when do they start to lose interest?

 

[minnieandme]

Well, me having 2 boys who LOVE video games, I'd say around 6 or 7 years old. My DS8 doesn't really play with toys anymore. I stopped buying them for him about 2 years ago.

Being that you have a DD, it will be alot longer than that. Maybe around 9 or 10 depending on what she likes to play with now.

 

[FreshTressa]

DS 8 almost 9 is still VERY into his toys while DD 7 almost 8 has been done for over a year now.

 

[mickeyboat]

My DD's are turning 6 and 7 this week, and they think they still like toys, but rarely ever play with them. We have a room full of them, and they refuse to get rid of any. I think after these birthdays, we wil lfind some creative ways to convince them to get rid of some of them.

Good luck to you.

Denae

 

[SuBeat]

I think it was around age 9 that DS's interest moved from toys to electronics. DD8 (almost 9) actually seems to enjoy her toys now more than she did a couple of years ago, but I predict she'll be done with them by the time she's 10.

 

[Beth76]

Well, me having 2 boys who LOVE video games, I'd say around 6 or 7 years old. My DS8 doesn't really play with toys anymore. I stopped buying them for him about 2 years ago.

Interesting. So are video games their only "toys"? They really don't have any other toys? What about board games? My son is 5 and into video games. But he does occasionally play with the other toys which we have for my 2yo. The train set has been popular the last couple of weeks.

OP, if it's too much either get rid of some of the toys they really don't play with. Every few months I go through and get rid of at least one box of toys to donate. I also go ahead and pitch the ones that are missing pieces or broken. Or put some away for awhile. Then you can cycle through them, so you still have them but not all out at once.

 

[gris gris]

OP, if it's too much either get rid of some of the toys they really don't play with. Every few months I go through and get rid of at least one box of toys to donate. I also go ahead and pitch the ones that are missing pieces or broken. Or put some away for awhile. Then you can cycle through them, so you still have them but not all out at once.

Well I'll fess up.....I'm wondering about when the toys go away because I want something cool like a pool table in the basement Or maybe even something useful like a treadmill. Not that I'm wishing their lives away....! Most of the "baby" toys are put away but now that DS is here they're going to be out soon. Where do you donate your toys to?

 

[TimeforMe]

It's funny you mentioned this as we were looking at old home movies the other day and my house looked like a toy store! I couldn't believe how they dominated our home. My kids are now 16 and 18 so of course no more toys, but instead we have instruments and other things.

I'd agree with the other posters although DS never had a game "system" until he was almost 10 so he really did play with legos, knex and stuff for a long time. The toys just gradually kind of fade out--like I don't ever remember looking around and noticing it--it just kind of happens.

 

[parrothead365]

Well I'm soon to be 46 and my garage is still half full of my "toys". They never go a way , they just get bigger and more expensive

 

[tkd lisa]

My initial reaction was "Never, they just change styles!"

For my DD, she stopped playing with "toys" by about 9. Between 7 and 9, most of those toys were different types of horses that she role played with. She never was a barbie kid. Now her "toys" are art supplies and books.

For my son, (who turns 13 today!) he still uses legos and k'nex occasionally. Of course, he's moved into the really expensive ones! In fact, I think we're merging all his birthday money and getting him the mindstorm programmable robot from lego. I told him that was his decision since it was so much money.

But things like action figures and the like probably went away also about 9 or 10.

 

[Beth76]

Where do you donate your toys to?

I have several organizations that call me when they're in my neighborhood. Then I just put my donations on the porch and they pick them up and leave a receipt. United Volunteers is one and Vietnam Veterans of America is another. There are also a couple of women's/children's homes that call. I like to give my toys and clothes to them. I don't know how I got on their call lists. But, do you have a Goodwill store near you? You can drop off your donations there.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Toys are still a great love here, my kids are 10(DD) and almost 6(DS).

 

[MosMom]

I'm having a big toy garage sale this weekend. I feel soooo much better knowing I reduced our toy load by about half. My daughter who is turning 9 on Sunday only plays with her horses and those were off limits. She still asks for toys sometimes but I know she won't play with them.

My son is 4 and still plays with his toys.

 

[loveysbydesign]

The toys go away way too quickly-LOL! My ds is 7 and sadly he doesn't play with as many toys as he use too. My dh is happy there are less around to steo on, I however am sad to pack away the "boy' toys that my ds and dd don't play with. Oh well, we're working on child #3 so I'll be able to unpack them again in the future!

 

[motherhen17404]

I have a brother who is 35 and he still plays with his Legos!

 

[pixiemomma]

MIne are 5 and 7 and have limited interest in toys outside of Legos and army men. (The cheap kind, not GI Joe.) The prefer to play with sports equipment outside, play electronic games, read or make things with art supplies.

 

[disykat]

My 11 year old still has toys, but my 13 year old lost interest earlier.

That said, the toy mess disappeared from the main areas of the house by about age 6. The rules changed and they kept their toys in their own rooms. Prior to that we had toy shelves or baskets in areas around the house. Most of my friends did the same. Toys around the house until they reach a certain age, then toys stored in their rooms. It's pretty easy to keep legos, barbies, etc. in bins on shelves and under their beds. Once you get past the playschool farms etc. it gets much easier to manage.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

It really depends on the kids. My DD played with toys for a lot longer than my boys. My oldest boy played with toys for a lot longer than his younger brother. He was into Legos and K-nex and as an almost 16yo will still play with them sometimes (he acts likes he's playing with his youngest brother, but he enjoys it). My middle son who is almost 13yo, transitioned to mainly outdoor toys by the time he was 6-7yo. My 6yo is a combination of his brothers. He loves to play with the outdoor toys, but he still likes certain toys (Legos, Hot Wheels, etc) and he's now getting into K-nex. He also loves video games, but I limit those. The toys do get smaller at least.

We were happy when we could get foosball , and ping-pong tables and an electronic basketball. They are things that they whole family can play with.

I need to clear out a bunch of the old toys since my youngest has grown out of a lot of them.

 

[summerrluvv]

My son is 7.5 and is still very much into his toys. His favorites are Legos and his pirate/castle toys. I try not to let him sit in front of the tv and play too many video games...they rot the brain as my mom says LOL.

 

[Linda/MA]

My girls are 17 and 20 and I finally have the play room just about cleaned out! I had gotten rid of all the little kids toys by the time they got through middle school but still had all their American Girls stuff, board games, and Barbie dolls around. Last year I finally packed away the American Girls stuff and gave most of the games to my niece for their vacation home, but I still actually have one box of Barbies, some of the old Polly Pockets and lots of books hanging around. When other little kids come over, they play with them or I try to give them to my niece and nephews kids. Please, someone take them away!