TOYS!

I don't think you are mean but that is because i have done the same thing!

My DS has a toy box in the lounge and 6 shoebox size boxes in his room and that is it. If he gets new toys we give an old one away so that everything fits in the boxes as it def does get out of hand.

Sorry I don't know the ages of your kids so hopefully this isn't too age inappropriate but I think if you involve them in the process it should go ok. But you need to figure out some ground rules - e.g. all broken toys get biffed, toys that haven't been played with in over xxx time are donated elsewhere.

And if they protest then explain that there will be no new toys (toy library or otherwise) until some room is cleared.

I wouldn't feel bad about the gifted toys unless they are very special ones with sentimental value. I think people will understand about the need to clear space.

Nah not mean. I went through all of Jakes toys and binned or rehomed everything that was trashy, broken, grown out of (if it was good quality I packed it away for baby #2), most plastic stuff, uhm yeah I put the following toys into little baskets that fitted on the bookcase so its easy for him to see what they are and to tidy up afterwards. Each type of toy has its own basket.
We kept wooden blocks, all the metal or wooden cars (not plastic) to go with the wooden garage, a teaset, playdough toys, and a bunch of brightly coloured tupperware plastic animal parts which I use to do colours. He also has jigsaws, an abacus and books, and a little toolbench with a ton of tools coz thats a big fave, a wooden easel with blackboard, whiteboard and painting board (and paints, pencils and crayons to go with), a rocking horse and a set of drums. Thats it in our house.
I've put a ban on any toys as gifts unless they're wooden or metal and fairly educational and all the grandparents have been fine with it. He has a good imagination and I want to encourage him to use it.
Sorry bout the long post lol I do think kids are given too much stuff though!

yep, done it here too...but I also bought a lot of toys on trademe so it doesn seem too bad to move them on. I had a big sort through of Tom's toys before James arrived and took any baby toys off him. He didnt miss them at all. I have been meaning to start a toy cull after each birthday, xmas etc and get them used to donating to the sallys etc. When they get older I will let them have some say in it.

I am doing the big toy cull also. I used to be a serial toy buyer there are so many cool baby one out & i always went over board. Oh to think of the thousands of $$$$$ I have spent on them.....makes me a bit sick.

I just get sick of being over run by by toys & I have to pick most of them up. My boys don't play with a lot of them the way they are meant to, so out they go.

So I am sorting them out & all broken toys, ripped books, missing puzzles are thrown out. All baby toys & toys they don't play with are sold on TM.

They play with cars & Thomas & lego mostly.

I am going to join the toy library, what a great way to change toys regularly.

As for what to keep & what to get rid of, I would go by how you feel. Maybe box some up & put away. My youngest is 3 & half & I am only now getting rid of the baby baby toys, lol.....can always buy more if I needed to