Yep. Every year in February (my kids birthday’s are in January and February) we have a “Donation box” set up and at least the same amount of stuff (subject to negotiation and parental approval) that they got for Christmas and birthday must go into the box. If they’d rather hold onto something old and donate one of their recent gifts, that’s fine, too. Broken toys need not go into the box, but they do count towards the total.
Actually, just this week I had to explain the Donation Box to my 2.5 year old. She very bravely and generously put her favoritest sweater (which is three sizes too small) into the “box for the tiny babies who need clothes.”
Please, oh, please, WhyNot, won’t you come and do a seminar at our birthday party? I’ll give the kids all loud noisy temporary toys they have to play with outside, and meanwhile the adults (well, the 'rents, not me as I already get the concept) can attend your “If you don’t want your kids to be spoiled don’t spoil them” type lecture.
Whadya think?
(In other news, it was decided that adults no longer get presents last year. This sucks for me because as the only single childless adult this means I get one present a year at Christmas. No, I’m not spoiled! Stop looking at me like that! I know, I know, I’m supposed to use all that money I was spending on adult presents and spend it on myself, but it’s just not the same… )
Sorry, I was looking for specific kits to recommend. I know Target has a bunch of beading/weaving/painting type crafty things; they have a section usually over by office supplies and greeting cards, not by toys.
On their website, do a search for “Creativity for Kids”. It’s a specific brand with some really great arts ‘n’ crafts kits. Usually the end result is much smaller than the box it all came in, so if you can’t convince them to give their creations away, at least they’re not large gifts, right? Do you own your own home with a yard? Maybe they could each make a garden stone or painted rock and put it in your garden. They can come visit their stones at Auntie’s house, but their rooms don’t get cluttered up.
And you should totally join the Doper Secret Santa exchange in December! It’s a ridiculous amount of fun for such a little gift.
