Twice a year we do this – once in the summer, and once after Christmas. The Great Toy Clean Out, which is really a room by room (including play house) clean up of little girl stuff, has just been completed. It is amazing how much stuff 3 little girls can collect. Of course they collect a lot from grand parents, uncles and aunts, even some close friends; plus all the papers and projects they bring home from activities. It doesn’t take long to pile up. My wife pulled out 9 rocks in one bedroom (they were hiding under a bed)! Clothes that were supposed to be hung were stuffed around stuffed animals. Used tissues in drawers – ugh! Although we have them make beds and put toys away daily and clean rooms weekly, it is amazing how children will find ways to put things were they do not belong! They work really hard to not work!
Anything that is broken and cannot be fixed or is not worth fixing, tossed out. Things that are inside that belong outside, taken out. Things that are outside that belong inside, brought in. Toys that they no longer play with are given to friends or taken to Goodwill (or some other charity). This time there were two big bags of garbage thrown out (mostly puzzles with missing pieces, papers from school, etc.), with just a little bit given away. Usually with the after Christmas clean out there is a lot more given away (to make room for the new stuff that came in).
We are not yard sale people, but if you are, this is one way to make a few bucks. As I mentioned, we take some things to charity which saves us money on our taxes. Either way, you are making or saving pennies which is a great thing. It also teaches our children to learn to give things away and to make decisions. When they realize other children have less than they do, they get excited about giving things away – that is priceless.
