Last updated on November 28th, 2023 at 08:19 pm
Llana Writes:
“Hi Natalie, I frequently think back about a post you made a few years ago about what you do with your twins around the holidays. i remember thinking it was amazing, but at the time my twins were too little. Now that they are two and a half i would like to do it. I remember you said you had them pick one of their toys to give a way as well as buy a toy to give away and a toy for each other? is that right? anyways, my question is, where do you give your toys away to? is there a place where the kids can actually see it being given to other kids so they get the concept? Thanks, Llana”
Dear Llana,
Happy Holidays. Yes, my twins still get into the holiday spirit each year. Here is what we do.
- Before the holiday come, they have to clean out ALL (yes all) their old toys. We then make a fairly sizable pile that all goes to the Salvation Army or to a local charity near our apartment for homeless families. The rule is, they can not donate anything damaged, overly used, or just overall bad shape. All the toys must have ALL the pieces and be in great working order.
- Then, as the holidays get closer, we go into the “toy closet”. Each year, for any and every occasion, the new toys that the twins receive go into the “toy closet”. Of course they get to keep a few out, but a good portion goes into the closet. ALL YEAR LONG we take out new toys on a sick day, a vacation day, etc, and they really appreciate it and play with it a lot more then if they just tore through all the packages in one day. So, we go into the toy closet, see what remains and then we give more then 80% to Toys for Tots (we did this activity this weekend). The toys that remain in the closet are ones they usually don’t want, hence why they never chose them for new toy day.
- THEN (yes, there’s more) the twins have been getting an allowance all year. My son is a total saver, while my daughter spends it the moment it gets in her hand. About two weeks before Christmas, we go to a local discount store and they have to EACH buy one NEW gift for a child, and they are also allowed to each buy one gift for each other. The gifts they exchange are usually pretty cute and things I would never get them. Example, Johnny bought Anna a notebook and pen. It was so simple, but she loves to draw. Anna bought Johnny a kitchen whisk because he loves to cook. They are so sweet to each other. It’s amazing how generous they get this time of year.
- THEN we collect all the toys we are donating, both new from the store and new from the Toy Closet and we bring them to our local firehouse which collects for Toys For Tots.
It’s been working wonders for my kids and have really given them a sense of community and giving that I don’t think I could have taught them any other way.
Hope this helps. Happy Holidays.
– Nat
