A child’s old toys may hold many precious memories for a parent.

By Jane Kim

It was the annual holiday gift sale at my son’s school, where families donate new and gently used items. Kids shop for loved ones, and everything costs a dollar.

In the past, our family members have received gifts that were in surprisingly good condition for a mostly “white elephant-style” exchange. The gifts are wrapped, labeled, and sent home with your child - easy, peasy, lemon squeezy.

Donating items

Although the deadline for donating items had passed, I was assured that the giving window remained open. I thought spending an hour with my son sorting through old toys, books, and games could be fun—decluttering, reminiscing, and reinforcing the idea of giving to others.