by Linda Ann Nickerson

Created on: February 09, 2008   Last Updated: January 09, 2012

Every grownup knows the feeling, that near-perfect excitement that arises each December, when the family unpacks the beloved holiday items. These treasures have rested safely in storage for nearly a year, and the mere act of unwrapping each item makes it feel like new again.

On the other hand, any parent knows the never-ending nuisance of picking up discarded toys, or cajoling children into doing so. Barbie shoes, LEGOs, Hot Wheels cars, doll house furniture, Beanie Babies and other playthings can transform a tidy home into a Toy Land trash heap in nothing flat!

ROTATE TOYS

Smart parents initiate toy rotations. After children have enjoyed certain toys for a few weeks, Mom or Dad washes and packages all the pieces and puts them in a big bin or box for a while. At the same time, other toys are resurrected from storage, delighting children with newfound interest.

In a child's imaginative world, if a plaything reappears after being absent for a month or two, that item truly seems brand-new.

RE-WANTED TOYS

Have you ever held your own family yard or garage sale with your children? What happened, when your children discovered their own discarded toys sporting discounted price tags? Or, how did your little boys and girls react to the discovery that some of their unwanted playthings were headed for the thrift store?

That's right! The toys suddenly, miraculously, developed a newfound attraction. Unwanted toys immediately became re-wanted toys.

As former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 1962), the late wife of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 1945) stated it, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

RECYCLE TOYS

Of course, the day eventually comes when children do outgrow many of their toys. When this time comes, recycling toys is a wonderful option. You can pass them along to a younger friend or family member, place them on consignment or donate them to an appropriate charity.

SOURCES:

• http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/eleanorro o119425.html
• http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/ar32.h tml
• http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0760616.html

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