Leave Old Toys Under the Tree for Santa Claus to Deliver to Other Children
Getting kids to part with their old toys can be challenging. Of course, they haven’t played with this train since pre-pandemic times, but what if after six months they suddenly felt the urge and it disappeared ? However, especially at this time of year, children also share a spirit of charity. So if you’re worried about an influx of new toys when your house is already sinking under the weight of existing ones, you can put their holiday excitement to good use by asking them to give Santa some old toys.
My husband and I decided early on that Santa would not be responsible for giving all the presents to our son on Christmas morning. In our house, Santa fills a stocking and brings a couple of gifts; the rest of the gifts come from us. We decided to do it in such a way that we could explain to our son why it is still important to donate and help others in need at Christmas.
“Maybe some parents cannot afford to receive additional gifts like we do,” we would say. “It will also help them give their children a little more.” It seemed like a balance between being able to experience the magic of faith in Santa while making it clear that not everyone has as much as he does.
And this year, perhaps more than any other year, children have taken a close look at sacrifice and struggle. The chances are good that they, like the rest of us, want to help, want to give, and want to feel like they can make a difference.
Therefore, ask each child to find two or three carefully used toys, games, or books that they can part with. Have them put the items unfolded under the tree with a note to Santa that says he can take them and add them to another child’s gift stash. In fact, they themselves are a bit like Santa . (Plus, knowing they’re going to get a fresh batch of toys will ditch some of the old toys.)
Then, to keep your word, hide these toys until you can give them to a child in need – donate them to your local shelter, give them out for free on the Facebook Marketplace, or contact your local kindergarten or library to see where these toys and books can find new life. …
This story was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated on December 23, 2020 to provide updated information and align with the current style of Lifehacker.