Neither of my kids like stuffed animals, big or small. Sometimes, they will play with one for a few minutes, but that's it. Does anyone have kids that didn't like stuffed animals when they were little, but started liking them at age 4 or older? Otherwise, I would like to get rid of all these stuffed animals that people have gotten them as gifts.
Thanks!
my kids each have one favorite.. that they keep in their room.. but otherwise they aren't much for stuffed animals. I kept some bunny ones for Easter decorations.. and that's about it.. gave the rest away to unwed mom place in Elizabeth NJ. good luck.. or Hudson Cradle .. for babies who are sick in Jersey City.
I remember playing with my stuffed animals from age 6 - 10. I loved them.
I see what you're saying though. I have 2 boys and a girl, and together they have more stuffed animals than I ever imagined!
My girls are 3 1/2 and really have no interest in them either. I've been pulling them out of toy circulation gradually and nobody seems to notice or miss them.
Hi T.,
My sense is that children love one or two stuffed animals, but if they have a whole, whole lot, they just become a collection and none of the individual stuffed animals take on any meaning.
We have limited storage space, and as a result, I have limited patience with un-played-with, neglected toys. My general principle is that if something remains in "like-new" condition for six months or a year, it's time to give another child a chance to give it some love.
Best wishes,
Mira
Have the kids pick one or two that they want and donate the rest. People always get kids stuffed animals for some odd reason and while they like to play with them for a couple days they always end up just accummulating dust.
I loved stuffed animals when I was younger, but with 4 kids, they are definitely a pet peeve of mine. How many do kids really need? Get rid of them if you can, and like someone else suggested, donate them to a shelter or hospital or whatever. I'd keep one or two SMALL ones per child to sleep with and that's it. Believe me, if they decide to like them more at some point, somebody will buy them one or they'll ask for one when you're at a garage sale or store. My in-laws tended to buy some really large and ugly stuffed dolls & animals for my girls a lot when they were a little younger. I started a rule that if you bring a new one in, an old one goes out, otherwise their beds would be covered. I have made a point to mention this rule in front of my MIL so maybe she'd get the hint. That didn't really work, but since my girls are a little older now, they don't really buy them stuffed animals anymore. Actually, the littlest pet shop animals are great for about your daughter's age & up, since they are LITTLE. They aren't stuffed and you can fit 20 in a small purse. My boys have a few stuffed animals they sleep with, but that's all they do with them. Why don't you get some plastic farm animals or dinosaurs if you don't have some already as a replacement? Those things always see more action than stuffed toys.
always loved them IF they were their favorite character. for example, even though my kids have stuffed animals in every corner of our house, one of mine sleeps with lady (from lady and trump) only. that thing is sooo old, i got her a new one yet she still sleeps and carries her old one. the other daughter has the same stuffed animals but for months now carries this giant eve (from wall-e) everywhere she goes, and even sleeps with it. so to answer your question if they don't care about some of the characters just give those away. we went through mickey and minnie phase and got all kinds of those. they got tired of them, so we have been getting rid of those little by little. same thing with tiger and pooh and eyore (sp?) etc.
Hi T., it's so funny you asked this because I noticed that my son just started taking more of an interest in his stuff animals lately. He just turned 2 but he really didn't pay any attention to them until very recently. Now he loves them, and packs them around everywhere.
IF you do decide to get rid of them though, might I suggest donating them to a local hospital or shelter? You'd be shocked at how much a stuff animal means to a child that doesn't have one. Just a thought! :)
Lynsey
I understand that you may to throw them away, but I wouldn't. My older boys didn't when they were younger and now 4 1/2 yo, 3 1/2 yo and they play with them now and even many times sleep with it. My 22 month old is not into the stuffed animals just like his brothers, but I know he eventually will.
Don't get rid of them! I got rid of tons of the stuffed animals that my kids got as babies. About two yers ago, at age 5, my daughter started wanting them. She's seven now, and she and her friends still sleep and play with all their "stuffies". Just put them away and they'll be like new in a few years.
Hi T.,
My experience with girls is, yes, the older they get the more attached they become. Usually they'll find a few that become favorites, and one that they become really attached to. Each of my daughters have one that comes with us on vacation, and goes to summer camp (my girls are 12 and 14), and their not alone their friends bring them over for sleepovers, and I've seen a carload of girlscouts heading to an overnight all with a special friend.
I highly recommend you start thinning them out. It's not easy to get rid of them either. A lot of places like hospitals won't take them (safety/health reasons), Good Will wouldn't take them either. Some police dept's take them to use when they go to domestic calls, and shelters will usually take them.
My girls 8yo and 3yo both have a select few they really like. I got rd of almost everything else. I kept about 5 choice animals that resemble animals we have had that have passed on. They are in a net near the ceiling as decoration and the few they like are on their bed. If they really don't care for any of them I would get rid of all of them except a choice few if they were from a grandparent or someone special in the family that passed or is ill. I still have a doll given to me by my parents after my grandmothers death that I keep purely for sentimental reasons. Ali
My son really didn't like stuffed animals until he was almost 4 1/2. He has a few Webkinz that he LOVES, and uses them as he uses his action figures. (On the other hand, he didn't want the happy meal at McD's the other day, because the toy is a beanie baby this week/month/etc.) Keep a few, but the rest can probably be passed along to someone else.
