Too Many Toys

Are you tired of too many toys from birthdays?? Of course I want my children to have some toys to play with and to have fun with, but birthdays at our house get way out of control and toys start taking over the house, especially with three spring birthdays! In past years the kids opened their presents, played with them for about a week and after a few months of tripping over them or after I realized the closet was just too full, I'd go to freecycle and give them to other children. This year I thought, what if the kids got something that wasn't a THING and was an activity or people gave to charities in honor of the child. That got me thinking about Matthew first. See, my son Matthew has autism. He definitely has his favorite toys, TRAINS, and also some letter flash cards, which we have plenty of already. At his parties present time is his least favorite time, all the kids gathering around him, laughing loudly, yelling to have him open their present next. Matthew hated the noise, the chaos and the hustle and bustle of kids so close to him. I knew he wouldn't miss the gift time. What if for his birthday he didn't have to go through that tough time and instead received what he really NEEDS? What if each kid that comes to the party donates $10. to autism research in his honor?? That would be a much needed $100.!!! And how good he would feel to go to his walk knowing with his friends' help he would have a generous donation. So this year I made up these post cards to add to his birthday invitations:



I think this idea will work great for my other children and for other kids too! My daughter could collect funds for her sponsor Compassion child , my infant son we can pick a charity for him. Or of course gift cards to go bowling or to the museum would work great too. What is important is not junking up the planet with plastic toys that don't even hold their interest. A much needed lesson about conserving our planet's resources, about how good it is to give to others and the fun of just being together is available!! Help keep our landfills free of useless garbage, don't give junky cheap toys that are made of our planet's resources but rather the gift of giving honor and love!

If you would like to help Matthew with his autism campaign please donate here Matthew autism walk site and THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!