Saving Toys for Future Grandkids?

I have given away everything except the legos, brio trains and playmobiles, I consider those investments (they were expensive!) I also have a collection of fisher price little people, buildings and accessories which were my favorite toys growing up. These are especially precious to me because they don't make them anymore.

My grandkids are still playing with the toys I had as a child. If you have room then I say save whatever was fun to play with. Dolls didn't get save due to their beautiful hair cuts. My Barbie's were worn out and they got tossed when I was younger.

I will probably save things that will stand the test of time and don't end up with missing pieces or ruined parts - wooden blocks, board games, books, etc. But I have a niece who is 2 years younger than my daughter, lives several states away, and their family is always strapped for cash - so it's nice as toys get outgrown by my DD, to ship them to her.

I used to save clothes and toys for my children but it just became overwhelming. I've come to realize that I am someone that does better mentally when I don't have so much stuff around me. I've also come to realize that it feels good to donate things we no longer need to children who are desperately in need and, also -- and this is a big breakthrough for me -- that I just don't value having things as much as I used to.

I figure that when my children have their own children, we'll get some new toys for the grandkids if necessary. But after spending so much money on toys that my kids never really played with or destroyed without actually playing with it as intended, I will be more selective on which toys we will bring into our house from now on. Sometimes more is not necessarily better.

I saved a bunch, then kept cutting it back. Every time I moved, I would get rid of more. With the toy recalls, lead paint issues, etc. our adult kids are not interested in letting their kids play with old toys. So I would say just save a few sentimental items or really special things. I have a kid's chair my grandfather made for me (he was a carpenter) and a few favorite special dolls. Save some special artwork and schoolwork instead in a scrapbook - as you get older, that becomes more important!

I think it's better to let that stuff be used by other kids - your friends, relatives or needy kids in shelters or deprived economic areas - than to let it sit around in boxes. I'd be wary of stuff from long ago - you don't know what it was painted with or if the parts are still intact. A lot of things were not made to good standards.

The cost of storing things is astronomical. I saved nothing except a few favorite clothing outfits, his baby shoes, his blankie. I took pictures of him with everything else, and gave it away so it could be enjoyed.

We give everything to younger family members, charities, or shelters. Giving to those less fortunate is a character trait we would like to cultivate in our children, and teaching them this act of kindness by parting with their toys seems like a good way to do that. It helps ease some of the sadness if they know that someone who doesn't have dollies can now have one of theirs.

Wow. I never thought about this. Ever. My parents never saved anything of ours. My MIL did give my daughter a cabbage patch doll from the 80's that my husband used to have (it was a boy doll - DH still denies that it was ever his, but his mom says he loved it :-) Anyway, my daughter loves that doll because it used to be her dads! I am so glad you posted this because now I will think of a few things to save for future grandkids! Thanks!!!

When it came to my children's toys, I passed many of them on to the thrift store, but I was willing to save anything they just couldn't let go of. Now that they're grown, they have those boxes of toys at their houses and THEY have to deal with what to do with them!

My husband's family didn't save anything of his but an old erector set (which we have). I mainly saved my dolls. I have mine and my mother's and aunt's, so many are antiques. My kids weren't really into dolls, but some of the grandchildren are and I've made sure there are sturdy, play-with-able ones in the mix. I have gathered other kinds of toys from yard sales. If the grans aren't interested in what I've found, I've only lost a dollar or two. The ones that pass the play test I keep. I have one toy closet in my house, and if there are too many grandchild toys to fit in the closet, some things have to go.

You don't have to keep things just because they're nice. You could try selling them on eBay, especially if they're collectors' items - or you could pass them along to charity so children whose parents can't afford toys can have nice things to play with.

My friend's MIL gave her a box of books at her baby shower that were her son's/friend's husband's favorites as a child. She was really touched that her MIL had saved the books many years earlier to pass on to her grandchild. I plan to pack up some special books once our little ones grow out of them and then save them for the future as well.

I give everything away! The ones that I really loved, but I mean really loved from my son, are still home with my second one, but I do not think they will last for a lifetime in their hands!

I choose the nicest ones and give them to friends, other that are still in very good condition I put together, make sure they are functioning, clean and complete and donate them to my kid's old mother's day out program.

Things that work but do not look in excellent condition I put in the charity boxes or good will and the rest just go to trash.

My mom saved:
- Hard cover books
- Lincoln logs
- A few "stuffed" animals
- Cabbage Patch dolls
- few Barbies (not the outfits, though)

MIL saved:
- Transformers (my little boy LOVES them)
- Baseball cards (wish she didn't b/c now we have to get rid of them)
- My DH's train set
- Dr. Seuss hard cover books

We will probably save:
- wooden train set
-rubber blocks
- board books/ "classic books"
- Board games

I've had a private debate (with myself) over this same thing. My parents didn't save much of our stuff... a few Tonka cars (yes CARS) and some wooden blocks and pull string dog, (yes the classic one, lol) etc. But not a lot.
They pulled it out when my brother had kids and then the kids had different toys to play with at grandma's house.

I thought about doing the same sort of thing... keep a few of the good quality things: wooden puzzles, wooden block sets, lincoln logs, wooden train/track set, the plain basic lego set... And I have. But our kids also have things they don't want to part with and they routinely ask (when I insist they clean out their rooms and get rid of things) if they can put ___ in the attic. A lot of it is junk. Or at least a lot of it is plastic, lol. Action figures etc.

I don't want to put all that junk in the attic, but I struggle with making them toss it too.

And then there is the tricycle. A really good Kettrike. They are WAY too big for it, but still play with it sometimes (they stand on the back step, lol). Even though they have plenty of other stuff (they are 9 & 12 and have bikes, scooters, razor 360 trike and an electric scooter).. but they still LOVE that little kettrike. I want to keep it b/c it is such good quality.. but hubby doesn't want to put it into the attic. :(

Urgg..
And yes.. my hubby too, thinks that ALL of it should be gotten rid of.. doesn't see the point of keeping any of it "for the grandkids one day"... lol

I would save the "favorite" story books. Really look at some of their stuff and try to see into the future. There are a few things I would like to have back that I lost after a divorce... I had a box of saved stuff for my kids. Some of the board games they dont make anymore. A simon game, than now costs like 200 bucks on ebay (that pissed me off at Christmas). Anyway, evaluate some of the stuff and if there is any that would you think would be a collectible I'd save it. Things the kids really liked to play with at one time, save it. Things that wont rot, mold, blow up, melt, mildew or stink....and worthy of playing with 20 years from now, save.

I would save a few items that I knew were my child(rens) favorite toys but not for the reason your MIL is saving them for future grandchildren to play with. Toys change over the years and there is no way to find out about recalls and lead paint. Even wooden blocks, depending on the age, could have lead based paint. How do you know they are safe if they are 20 + years old?? I don't even like when my parents come over with yard sale toys or toys from the salvation army. I'd rather buy things new. But that is just me. I'd go with your husband's idea.

My dad has made some wooden toys and I am saving those.

I'm saving FAVORITES ONLY! One thing per kid that they toted around for years... plus a box of my little ponies (I had to, some of them had been MINE, LOL) and a box of legos and matchbox cars. Ditto flor clothes. Everything else is taking me a while to part with, but it must be done, or else I'd be on that show 'Hoarders' ;)

Never really thought of it before but probably nothing. My mom saved nothing, my brother saved some books and found a bunch of mine in them and sent them to me - my kids aren't interested in them at all. My MIL saved a couple cherished stuffed animals that my daughter likes, but that's all. I'll probably save their lovies so they can give them to their kids, but most of the other toys they aren't really heirloom quality.

OM goodness great question!
I only have boys, so we are saving train tables, classic building materials (legos, lincoln logs), bb and cap guns & one to two special cuddly animals.
At my mom's house (we were all girls) we have a Barbie army packed away along with a special tea set, rocker, kitchen set and a few babies.
My boys actually play with my first baby and love being daddy to it - so sweet!

My mom and grandma saved alot of our old toys. I think its really cool when they pull out the old toys for my kids to play with.
Me on the other hand...well I am a different story. I get rid of almost everything! I do save some of my kids things. The toys they most appreciate (or really expensive ones). We don't have a very large house with alot of storage space. So I feel better giving their unwanted toys to Goodwill or donate it to a child who really needs it.

I saved very little. If I ever have grandkids, they'll get their own toys. There are no shortages of toys, my kids got tons of toys at their birthdays and the holidays. Nothing of mine was saved, I grew up in a city apartment and we did not have attic or basement storage or spare rooms. My husband had a few things from his childhood, but my son wanted a current GI Joe, the big metal trucks didn't seem safe (sharp edges) and matchbox cars are a dime a dozen (well, less than $1 each). They still sell wooden blocks, I can't see saving them. My son's Thomas the Tank Engine trains and tracks are in the attic, but he's 11. If in 20 or 25 years, he has little boys the age to enjoy those, maybe there will be some other popular train type that they would prefer that would be current. I'm not a huge saver!

since I had all boys, my dollies are still packed away and wanting to be played with. I believe some are now collector’s items from the 70's. None of my boys toys were worth saving...

I'd say, base it on space. We just recently bought a new, larger house, and it's amazing how fast all the closets, shelves, drawers, attic, garage and even a spare bedroom fill up with STUFF. If you have the room, save a few things that carry a lot of sentimental value. Also consider if it will last in storage or if it will degrade over time (esp if you plan on storing in, say, an un-air conditioned attic). Otherwise, I say pass it on.

Well, my MIL saved EVERYTHING and all of my childhood toys/clothes/etc was destroyed in a fire.

I plan on saving the toys and books that survive (lol) and some clothes that have sentimental value (first xmas dresses, first shoes, etc).

My husband wants to get rid of it all too, but I told him that as long as we have the space, I'm keeping what I want! lol

Definantly save 'favorite' books! My mom just dropped off over 50 books that I read when I was a kid- mostly series books like R.L. Stine and some others. I figure she just saved me (5/book*50 books) 250.00 at least!

I'm not going to save anything (unless they grow a special attatchment to something). Giving it all to Goodwill or Catholic Charities. We don't have the space, and for the most part the toys my MIL brought us have been a burden. They already have way too many toys. They get spoiled at birthday parites and Christmas. They don't need them.

By the way, I do have a small house :-)

I'm saving all the Thomas train stuff--I love trains and so do my kids.

M.

Don't plan on saving much at all. I plan on purchasing a few new toys when it comes that time for my Grandkids. My mom is a pack rat...and much of what she saved when we were young couldn't even end up being played it.

I think the classic stuff is good to save - wooden toys and sets of things that are in good condition. Also books that are in good condition and puzzles too if you have room to store them. My mom saved a whole milk crate of books from my childhood and my 4 year old LOVES them.

Good question. I had not really thought of that. My MIL, has saved many of my husbands old toys and games. Sometimes, she tries to give them to us. It is somewhat annoying and would not want to do the same to my kids. We encourage her to keep them at her house for the kids to play with. I think that I would like to save any of the kids favorite toys and/or anything that is in good condition that I think could be used in the future. Also, will depend on future storage space :)

I save the stuff that is special, and let the rest go.

I'm at a loss to find places to store the things my husband's mother saved of his. Its a pain, but then again I'm not a pack rat. I love to get rid of it and make space. I'll save a favorite stuffed animal and her first shoes. Maybe one toy if its compact.

We have no space to save. When our daughter was packing up her room to begin college, she had a hard time..

Her books were always her babies and all in perfect condition, so she went through and got rid of some of them, but I have about 2 dozen boxes still filled with her childrens books.. She saved some of her favorite barbies.

We gave her good blocks to her younger cousins.. And we still have lots of her board games. We also have a few of her stuffed animals and we have her special tea sets..

I do this!! I am saving a huge set of little people playsets. These are great long lasting toys and I hate to get rid of them. Wooden block set my DD still plays with- I will be keeping that. Remeber the old style block sorter (the red and blue ball) I got my daughter one for her first birthday and it is also a keeper. All the fad toys that go in and out quickly- that stuff will all go away. Im not keeping alot but there are some things I just loved that my girls had.

My parent's saved my doll crib and high chair, a rocking chair, and some books (Charlotte's Web, Wizard of Oz, Mother Goose, etc.) it is really cute to see my daughter's using these. I wish they would have saved more. I am quite sentimental and even though we are tight on space I plan on saving quite a few things for my daughters children. I mostly plan on saving the higher quality wooden toys we have, Brio and Plan Toys road and rail set, Haba food, blocks, doll pram, stacking toys, abacus, marble run, dolls, musical instruments, board games, puzzles, and books. I am not sure about the tinker toys, lincoln logs, legos, and magna tiles. I also am not sure about their tricycles and bikes. I would love to keep them, but again space is an issue. If you have the space, keep what your children loved and what you would love to see your grandchildren playing with!

I'd save a few things. Maybe make one box dedicated to the Grandbabies.. and whatever fits in their.. keep.. the rest, donate!

I also try and save the meaningful things. Like my daughter's baby blanket. Or or favorite teddy. Maybe a onsie she wore alot!