So I am getting annoyed at how many of our toys are getting broken by the random playdate/neighbor kids. It seems that everytime someone comes over something gets broken. Especially annoying when DS tells them to stop playing with it cuz they are going to break it. So far an expensive bow/dart toy was stretched so far that the rubber snapped, the back was broken off one of the play tables chairs and our 2 year olds electric ride on got it's axle broke. I don't want to go to the neighbors and have them pay for our stuff as we let them play with it but how do I deal with all the broken stuff? Hide everything?
ETA - the ride on is an outside toy they are mostly outside but then come in a grab things from the house. I try and keep an eye on what's grabbed but I have a 2 year old and a special needs 4 year old.
I my house I don't get angry about toys broken at playdates or otherwise. Most things nowadays are cheaply made and simply do not hold up well - too bad, but that's the way it is.
Before we have someone coming over my daughter and I put away toys that are new/dear to her or fragile. I just put them in her closet and they stay there until the visitors leave.
Yep, you answered your own question.
Some stuff just has to be set as "off limits", period.
Put away the toys for your own family into the playroom or where ever other kids do not have access.
Go to a Salvation Army or other 2nd hand shop and get cheap toys for the neighbors to play with.
I'd also make sure the kids can't play together until you can supervise (be right in the area with them) so you can watch.
When they begin activities that break things - time for them to go home.
Do it every time.
If they don't show any improvement over a period of time, have them over less and less.
I didn't see anything mentioned about setting boundaries & rules for when other kids come over. Why should OP have to put up with unruly kids ruining her children's things? She shouldn't.
Set rules & stick to them - ie - if a guest doesn't listen, disrespects your kid's property, talks back, etc., then they will be asked to leave & banned from your house for a length of time. Why on earth would you put up with kids who blatantly ignore your own child's request to play a little nicer with his toys? You are being too nice.
I'll be honest: I'm a hider.
There are a few special toys my son loves, a couple that aren't as solid as they could be, and some that I see just regularly get played with too hard, so when we host playdates they go away. It's not that they are crappy toys, per se, but some toys just do get played with too hard because of the kind of toy they are. (Like dinosaurs... all you can do with them is make GRRR sounds and attack them at each other.)
Hide it or have playdates be outside.
Yep. Before the boys come over, put away (or have your children help you to choose what to put away) certain toys/games. Put them on the master bed or in your closet. If the kids ask for it, tell them that it's off-limits from now on because too many toys keep breaking.
This happens every time we have a big gathering at our home as well. It's like some people's children are so excited to go someplace new that they can't help themselves.
When kids come over for playdates I try to tell them the rules of our house and say that they need to be careful since we cannot afford new toys. This usually helps a lot. I also instill in my kids to be respectful of other peoples toys. That's about as much as I can see that can be done.
