Operation: Out With The Plastic!
Step 1: Explain to your children that they have too many toys, and they aren't playing with all of them.
Step 2: Replace any toys that can be replaced (and would be missed) with cloth or wooden versions.
Step 3: Go through the remainder of your children's toys WITH them. Allow them to "save" 5 toys each. Bag the rest of them and donate the toys. Try Goodwill, http://www.freecycle.org/, local churches, preschools, etc.
Step 4: STOP BUYING PLASTIC TOYS! Ask grandparents and family to do the same.
If you're tight on money instead of donating the toys, let your child host a yard sale! They can use the money they earn to buy new cloth or wooden toys and it teaches them the value of money.
Try this easy craft to replace some of your child's plastic play foods.
Felt Tri-color Bowtie Pasta
3 colors of felt
Thread
Fabric Scissors
Pinking Shears (zigzag fabric scissors)
- Cut the felt into 1.5" long strips using regular scissors.
- Using the pinking shears, cut 2" pieces from the strips
- Gather the felt into a "w" in the middle. Stitch or tie into place.
Congratulations, you just made your first felt food!
The pasta box I made using scrapbook paper, scrap ribbon and a recycled pasta box from our pantry. It took less than 10 minutes and just a smidge of my children's glue. "Mama Leah" (get it? Mama Mia. hardy-har-har) is my 4 year old niece. Hidden behind the pasta, the box reads "Asheville's #1 Brand". ;) I hope she likes it! You could make this a little more durable for smaller kids if you had an empty coffee can, same thing, just cover the outside.
Helping Little Hands has a TON more felt food crafts! While you're there check out the Greater Than -Less Than Alligator Game, it's seriously adorable.
2 comments:
ugh. My kids have sooo many toys I wish I could get rid of. Even the broken ones..they insist they NEED to keep them. The house is being over-run. I asked them to go through them for a garage sale and they picked out 3 or 4 broken things that they would be willing to part with. For $10 each , they said ! I think I should just clear them out , when the kids aren't home , lol.
I feel your pain! Maybe they would part with some of the toys more easily if they knew that they could get a few new ones?
We had a meltdown a few weeks ago over "missing" 2" Kung Fu Panda figures. They were off of the twins' birthday cupcakes last year and I was SURE they weren't going to miss them. Boy did they ever!
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