Christmas toys back at my house...

the toys etc that we have bought for GS are still here and they will prob stay here (lego, new colouring pens books,jigsaws etc) but then he is here every morning bar one before school for a couple of hours so we have always had toys left here (In fact I would be annoyed if the lego went home lol what else would I play with)

@Agus but how would we keep the OPs, the DHs ,the GPs amused on Christmas Day if they had nothing to construct,glue ,fly or tread on .

They won't stand for it much longer anyway Aka. Can imagine the fireworks if it was suggested to our two.

My grandsons would always bring their latest toys for us to admire but I have a stash of toys - cast offs from my son, other grandparents, junk shop finds, crafting bargains, etc. and keep them in the loft. When the grandchildren arrive (or any other children) there is always plenty of old Lego, Thunderbirds, Starwars, etc. plus paint, crayons, sticky things etc. I think they enjoy the novelty of something they don't have at home. I've never had any complaints anyway. Now they are overseas for a while but I have kept most of the stuff as I think they will ask for it eventually. We recently had some other children here and they loved the "treasure" from the loft.

Oh , just realised why I started posting this. I dutifully buy from their "wish list" and try not to worry what happens to the items as I feel my job is then done. However, I think the toys often get "cleared out" sooner than I would wish. I guess not everyone has room to store things.

rockgran I don't think lack of storage is the problem, I think they just have far too much stuff!

Well I do agree with that. No amount of stuff makes up for a bit of loving attention. We spent nearly a whole day, once, playing a homemade picture bingo with a three year old.

Spot on Lona- it is absolutely ridiculous how much 'stuff' kids have- and yet still receive more and more...

At least DD1 ensures extra 'stuff' is not thrown away, but given to charity. But even so - it actually makes me not keen to buy more, even though I love our grand-children so much.

Agus I bought my GD who is coming up for 3 a wooden farm this Christmas. It was flat-packed, as are most things these days. I reckon she'd be too old to play with it by the time she was old enough to assemble it herself

Youngest grandson was here this afternoon, and was most put out by the fact that a lot of his toys are here. I explained that I'm looking after them as mummy is having lots of work done on the house [and that I did buy them in the first place] but he seemed adamant that he wanted them back when the work is finished [his mum is adamant that they'll stay here].

Hmmm - I wish that my DDGS would BRING BACK some of the toys he has stuffed in his mummy's nappy bag.

My DD has such a small house with a tiny living room. Most of DGS toys are in that room. I may suggest that she brings a few more here so that he has more of his favourite toys to play with and to give them more room to move.

I have a feeling that the very loud robot which he had from us for Christmas may be put in the garden soon

Two of my DGDs aged 2 and 5 have sooo much stuff - and mostly pink. There's a net over each of their beds to hold some of the soft toys, large toy boxes, book shelves, and the conservatory is now their toy room with box seats - full. The trouble is SiL's parents split up so now there's extra (competive) grans on the scene. Hence we give small presents and dosh towards swimming lessons etc.

Same thing as absent. But my DS and DDiL are quite open about leaving the noisy toys here! They leave other toys as well and I think it's rather nice. We live too far away to see them often and it's an indication they'll be back before they grow out of them. We have pyjamas and toothbrushes, too. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - just surfaced from the fray.

NannaAnna I wouldn't expect an almost 3yr old to assemble a flat pack My youngest DD had a farm set and used to spend her pocket money buying various animals etc. I put it in the attic when she outgrew it and now my GDs play with it. Hope your GD enjoys her farm.

My 4yr old GD was getting frustrated attempting to construct a craft item and lost interest in it. She was trying to follow the diagrams but couldn't read the instructions. I offered to help but she decided to start something else she could do herself.

There is light at the end of that tunnel. As they get older the big toys are replaced by computer games, consoles and tablets which, although a source of irritation, at least don't take up as much room as big toys. What they do take up is time.

My five year old gs leaves toys here - some bought by me, others not - so that Nanny can play with them when he's not here in case she misses him. He can clutter up my house as much as he likes!