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carebear · (#1 (**permalink**))

My hubby and I do this. They won't miss what they don't know what's missing. This really works. Of course we don't give away their favorite things. Just the stuff in the bins that they haven't touched in 6 months.

busybeehelpers · (#2 (**permalink**))

That is a pretty good idea. My daughter is two little to need to worry about this but I will keep it in mind.

anarch · (#3 (**permalink**))

This is a good idea if you're getting rid of old toys, etc., but I always suggest getting them involved for regular cleaning and such. Another thing that I used to do, in order to make the cleaning out of toys easier, was make a deal with my kids - right before Christmas or birthdays (or spring cleanings), we made a deal to bag up half of the toys and put them in the closet for safe keeping. Then, the kids got out the other bag of stuff from the closet and, if it was not around the holiday, they had all 'new' stuff to play with, that they hadn't seen for a while or, if it was close to the holiday or birthday, they were very willing to help weed out some of the old toys in anticipation of the new (we often donated them to the salvation army and my kids were more than happy to give up some toys for kids that didn't have a lot of toys). It worked very well.

cassiem0221 · (#4 (**permalink**))

WEll, if I ever not had all my children I might could do this! LOL I always have my kids, especially my 16 month old because he has special needs and I am not comfortable leaving him w/ anyone other than my Hubby or MIL. I have done that when my son is gone though and it was so much easier!

carebear · (#5 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassiem0221

WEll, if I ever not had all my children I might could do this! LOL I always have my kids, especially my 16 month old because he has special needs and I am not comfortable leaving him w/ anyone other than my Hubby or MIL. I have done that when my son is gone though and it was so much easier!

And you don't have them protesting about what you're throwing out.

junglebunny · (#6 (**permalink**))

We have had to do this. Our 15 year old was with my ex, and came with bags full of junk. We had to go through it when she was in school Clothes that no longer fit, things like that. What she didn't know didn't hurt her, like you said, carebear.

carebear · (#7 (**permalink**))

My kids have no idea what's missing from their room. I'm so sneaky about it and if they do ask where something is I tell them to clean up their room and find it. They'll usually drop it right there.

dunk3r23 · (#8 (**permalink**))

I like to clean up when I'm home by myself, it's so easy! no one gets on my way and I'm doing more stuff in same amount of time!

Gilipsie · (#9 (**permalink**))

This is a great idea, but in the summertime they are home almost 24/7.

alwaysright · (#10 (**permalink**))

It really does work actually. I use to clean all the time when my daughter was at school. Plus it use to help me keep things in order by the time she got home. Its much easir to keep order when things are already in order.