With around 129 million new toys heading into UK homes this Christmas, a child development expert and a decluttering pro share gentle ways to help children pass on the ones they've outgrown.
Take a look in your child's toybox and you'll probably find a few things that haven't been touched in months. You're not alone. More than nine in 10 parents say their children have toys they no longer play with or have grown out of, and they reckon that applies to almost two-fifths of everything their children own.
Yet the toys keep coming. The average child is set to unwrap nine new ones this Christmas, with parents spending around £247 on presents per child. The weeks before the big day are the perfect time to make a bit of room, and to talk with children about giving as well as receiving.
Most parents think their children are up for it. New research by Censuswide for pub chain Hungry Horse found that 79% believe their child would be happier to part with an old toy if they knew another child was going to enjoy it. And 77% would like donating toys to become a Christmas tradition in their family.
Let them choose
It isn't always easy, of course. A third of parents have hung on to a toy simply because their child refused to let it go. Research psychologist Dr Amanda Gummer says the key is to hand the decision over to them.
"Toys can hold a lot of sentimental value for children, so it's important to involve them in deciding what they're ready to pass on rather than making that decision for them. Giving children that choice helps them feel in control and can turn the experience into something positive."
There's no need to make them give up a much-loved favourite either. "Starting small can make it feel less overwhelming," she says. "Talking about where their toys are going next and how something they've loved could now bring joy to another child can help make giving feel meaningful rather than like a loss. It can also help children develop empathy and generosity, while appreciating what they already have."
Reset the toybox
Professional organiser Lynsey Crombie agrees. "The run-up to Christmas is a great time to reset the toybox before new presents arrive," she says. "Start small, involve the kids and focus on what they've genuinely outgrown or stopped playing with. The best clear-outs aren't about throwing things away."
Some children are already ahead of us. In London, more than a third of parents say their child has asked, unprompted, to give something to a child who has less.
Where to donate
A third of parents say a local drop-off point would make them more likely to donate. From 12th November to 19th December, more than 150 Hungry Horse pubs are running Toybox Donation Stations, where families can leave good-quality pre-loved or new toys for another child to enjoy this Christmas. Now in its sixth year, the scheme has collected more than 70,000 toys so far.
Find your nearest drop-off point at hungryhorse.co.uk.
