My son will be 3 in August. We do not buy him toys ever really. I can’t think of the last toy I bought him.

On Christmas and his birthday we have requested our families but toys with a greater age range. So when he was 1 he got a potty (not really a toy but wasn’t needed at that time) but would be beneficial in the future. We store the things he is gifted in the upper shelf of his bedroom closet. When he needs it or grows out of toys and into others we don’t have to buy it we can usually can swap out for age appropriate items.

With his birthday on the horizon we have requested a bicycle. He will not be able to ride it this year but come next summer he will have a brand new toy that I didn’t have to buy. We have also requested clothing in the next size up.

Is it the most “minimalist” practice? Nope. Not even a little bit but it helps them feel needed when they want to and will buy gifts anyways and it’s all things that will eventually be used. The space in his closet would be empty without these items so I don’t mind storing them out of the way until it’s their time.