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Budget-Friendly Playdate: Host a Toy Swap

By Melissa Hucal April 16, 2015
Want to keep your child’s toy box from over flowing with “stuff” but still give him a few new things to play with? Invite some friends over for a toy swap! It’s a great way to clean some extra things out from your own home, give a new life to some unused games and toys, and bring some new activities in for your own kids, at no cost to you.

The process is simple.
 
Everyone brings a few gently-used, but no-longer-wanted toys, kids try them out and take a new-to-them toy or two home to replace the ones they gave away.

And, let’s face it. Every kid has those toys that they just don’t play with much – those same toys that might be at the top of another child’s wish list.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you plan:

1. Invite friends with kids of varied ages. Since many of the toys you will most likely give away are ones that your kids have outgrown, you’ll want to make sure that there are kids present who can use them. Keeping it to less than 10 children will make the playdate/swap a little more manageable.

2. Set up some guidelines and share them with the invitees. Encourage friends to bring clean toys in good working order. It’s also best to have everyone bring a few more toys than they will take home. This way everyone has choices about what they will take home. Consider having everyone bring three, but leave with one. The remaining toys can then be donated to a local children’s hospital for kids there for long-term stays, a church nursery or preschool, or a shelter.

3. Involve the kids in the pre-swap process. Work with them to choose the toys that they will take to the swap and let them know that whereas they will be giving away some toys, they will receive one in return. This is a great opportunity to teach them concepts of generosity and sharing, not to mention what is saved in time (“shopping” is done in your home or a friend’s), money (you’re not spending anything for new experiences) and environmental impact (less waste is good for the planet and by not throwing unused toys in the trash, we’re not taking up unnecessary landfill space).

4. On the day of swap, clear off a large space on your counter or dining room table or even a bookshelf to display all the toys. As guests arrive, invite them to place their toys in the designated area.

5. Give kids some time to try out the “new” toys before they choose one to take home. Older kids can show younger kids how the toys or games work and can even share their favorite ways to play. After some play time, invite everyone to choose a toy to take home. To determine selection order you can draw names, work through the group from youngest to oldest, start with whoever has the closest birthday to the date, etc. 

6. Once everyone has selected their “new” toy, invite your guests to help you pack up the remaining toys for donations.

Toy swaps are a great way to get friends together while getting rid of the “excess” in your home and creating opportunities for your kids to try out new toys. Consider planning one with your group of friends a few times a year – it will help you control the clutter AND your budget!