How do you downsize your kids’ toy collection when you have too many?

Surgically. A mass toy exodus can lead to an uprising that just make you feel guilty enough to replace the missing toys … with interest.

The Evaporating Toy Chest

Right in front of me, with the personal care and empathy of a carpet bombing run, my grandmother would tear through my toy chest. “CRAP!” she’s say, and toss something into a bag. I’d object, but it was useless. She was recreating the scene from Empire Strikes Back where Yoda rummages through Luke’s supplies, and tosses them aside. In both cases, you don’t mess with a small Jedi master tossing your things aside.

Our Ninja Solution

After years of regret and anguish thinking of all my old Star Wars and GI Joe action figures sitting in some landfill, as parents — my wife and I took a different approach. A stealthy, surgical, ninja approach. Here are some of our best toy purging tips: Toys can occupy time, connect kids together, and, hopefully, teach them something. There will be some that should come and go. Not every toy will make it into your eventual grandkids’ toy-chest. But if one can survive a year with 3 kids under the age of 6 — you’re well on your way. Chris Lynam is a father of 3, and the creator of #DADventure. He writes about parenting, relationships, and fitness. You can read more from Quora here:

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