Festive red banner with a candy cane horseshoe decorated with greenery, red berries and gold and red baubles, surrounding the text “Play It Forward.”

PLAY IT FORWARD at Mill on the Soar

A family guide to passing on pre-loved toys and new toys this Christmas

At Mill on the Soar, we know Christmas is a magical time for little ones, with wish lists getting longer and excitement bubbling over. But before Santa squeezes even more goodies into the toybox, why not make a little room for some festive giving, too?

Whether it’s passing on a much-loved toy your child has outgrown or no longer plays with, or choosing a new toy to give to someone else, getting children involved can turn a Christmas clear-out into something positive and meaningful. Giving them a say can also help start conversations about generosity and how a toy they once loved could now bring happiness to another child.

That's why we've has teamed up with Dr Amanda Gummer, research psychologist and leading authority on children's play, parenting and child development, to share five simple tips for helping families Play It Forward this Christmas. Who knows? You might even start a lovely new festive tradition!

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Three children stand beside a decorated Christmas tree, holding a toy fire engine, a dinosaur soft toy and a teddy bear. Red and gold baubles, warm fairy lights and a Christmas stocking add festive detail to the indoor setting

1. Let them choose

Little legends love having a say, so why not let them take the lead when it comes to choosing which toys they're ready to pass on?

Giving them a say helps them feel in control and shifts the focus from losing a toy to choosing something they would like another child to enjoy.

A child in a cream cable-knit jumper and another child in a red tartan dress stand beside a decorated Christmas tree, holding plush toy animals while a person wearing reindeer antlers sits between them in a festive indoor setting with Christmas lights and ornaments.

2. Start small

There’s no need to tackle the entire toybox in one go.

Start with one shelf, box or type of toy and sort them into three simple groups: keep, donate and not sure. Keeping the task manageable can make it much less overwhelming for everyone.

3. Talk about the toy’s next adventure

Instead of focusing on “getting rid” of things, talk about where a much-loved toy could go next.

Explain how another little one could play with and enjoy a toy that once brought them lots of happiness. For younger kids especially, imagining their toy going to a new home can make the idea of passing it on feel much more exciting than simply having a clear-out.

After all, every toy deserves another chance to make someone smile!

4. Don’t force the favourites

A toy that looks forgotten to you might still mean a lot to your child.

If they aren’t ready to say goodbye, don’t force it. Put those toys in a “not sure” box and come back to them another time. There will still be plenty of opportunities to find something they are happy to pass on.

A person wearing reindeer antlers passing a plush toy dog to a child in a red tartan dress. There is a Christmas tree decorated with red and gold baubles, fairy lights and festive ornaments in the background.

5. Make giving a family tradition

Let children be part of the whole journey, from choosing a toy and making sure it’s clean and complete to taking it along to donate.

Making this something you do together can help children see sharing and giving as a positive part of family life and could even become a new Christmas tradition.

Two children sit at a festive dining table eating from plates of food, with one holding a piece of corn on the cob. The table is set with burgers, chips, vegetables, gravy, fruit juice cartons and drinks. Warm white fairy lights decorate the wall behind them, while a decorated Christmas tree with red and gold baubles and candy cane ornaments is partially visible to the side. Other diners are seated around the table in a cosy Christmas-themed restaurant setting.

READY TO PLAY IT FORWARD?

From 12th November, more than 150 Hungry Horse pubs nationwide will feature Toy Donation Stations, where families can donate good-quality pre-loved and new toys to help bring joy to another child this Christmas.

Tips developed with Dr Amanda Gummer, research psychologist and leading authority on children’s play, parenting and child development, and founder and CEO of Fundamentally Children, home of Dr Gummer’s Good Play Guide.