What to do with all these new toys?

[MG&Lsmom]

I know a lot of you have separate spaces for your daycares, but mine is my main living area. The only rooms off limits are my DDs bedroom and my bedroom. I put away all the toys I normally use for daycare Xmas eve to make room for our guests. My own kids have their new toys strewn everywhere and are totally engrossed in them. But I don't want my dcks into them just yet. Shouldn't my kids not have to share their new stuff? And I certainly don't want anything broken. How do you handle this?

Today I am closed because we got 18" of snow and no one had to go to work. So I have today to work on getting everything squared away and coming up with a solution.

And DH thinks I'm a Scrooge, but I really want to take down the tree so we can reclaim that floor space.

[Francine]

I always had my kids take their new toys to their rooms so that the daycare kids couldn't get to them. When they decided they wants to share they could bring them out but I never forced them to share them. They already share us, their house, their food etc. etc. they need to have their own toys that are just theirs.

[Crystal]

Nope, your kids should not have to share their toys. My rule has always been if you don't want to share it, it stays in your room. They don't have to share, but if they bring it out, they do.

And, no, you're not a scrooge....I like the tree down right away to. Our space is precious!!!

[laundrymom]

My tree is down we are business as usual. My own kids can play with their toys in their rooms.

[SilverSabre25]

Miss Joy and Crystal said basically how I handle things. I let DD decide what toys she wants in the playroom and what toys she wants to be "special" in her bedroom. She is allowed to go play in her bedroom anytime she wants and the daycare kids are NOT allowed in there, for any reason. If, during the day, she wants to make a toy special, she can, so long as it's not currently being used by another child.

[nannyde]

Nothing out in front of the kids that they can't have. I kept my sons toys completely out of the daycare until he outgrew them.

If your kids get to play with something in front of them that they can't have and they can talk it could cause problems with your clients. If your kids have something to play with even with the day care kids but your child can decide if it stays in or out of play it can cause problems with your clients.

[MommyMuffin]

My husband put away the christmas tree and cleaned up everything last night. I need the room for my sanity, I have a very small living room for daycare.

I put some special toys in my daughters room and the others I let them all play with. My daughter is 2.

When she gets older and understands I will tell her if she doesnt want the other kids playing with it she should keep it in her room but right now she just doesnt understand.

I feel bad that she has to share but right now she doesnt care. When she is old enough though I will keep them safe!!::

[SilverSabre25]

I also wanted to add that this is one of the big reasons I'm thinking that taking the week between Xmas and NYs would be a good idea--more time for my own kids to be at home enjoying their new toys, and more time for me to rearrange where things are to allow for new toys to come out.