Tot Toy Overload?

Is There Such a Thing as Too Many Teddy Bears?

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

My family loves giving my three-year-old son toys. They heap them on at any opportunity -- Christmas, birthdays or just when they see something "cute" in the store. These things often take the form of gigantic stuffed animals or noisy games. The result? An entire room devoted to his toys. He's only three, and we are already needing to give him a separate room for his belongings! Something seems off here.

Should I just be thankful that so many people want to give my son the toys he loves so much, or is this just too much for him (and our house!) to handle?

Sincerely,

Buried Underneath a Teddy Bear Somewhere 

A:

Dear Buried Underneath a Teddy Bear Somewhere,

Yes, your child can have too many toys. How do you remedy this? Are you kidding me? You take some away! There is no rocket science to this problem. It’s all about paying attention:

* If your child expresses frustration or another disturbing emotion when he or she is around toys, take them away. Start next time with one toy. Add a second toy. Need more? Add a third.

* There is no right amount of toys for any one child. Every person is different and too many toys for one child is just the right amount for another child. Know your child.

* At Christmas and holidays, go easy on the gifts. If your child gets over-stimulated with toys, easily give that child only one or a couple of toy gifts at a time. You can dole out the toys starting the day before Christmas. You can celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas. You can create Christmas through New Year’s as a gift period.

* Put gifts given to your child by out of town relatives and friends in the closet, and give them to your child later in the year.

* Have too many toys? Many children have none. Give toys to charity. In fact, have your child participate in this wonderful lesson in charity.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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