I have an idea but I want to bounce it off other mom's first.
I have been fed up with my kids not keeping thier room clean - and not caring if it's clean either. So a few times I have given them an hour to clean it and then bagged up everything on the floor. I am suprised they have much to play with but they keep finding things (and my DD's party is tomorrow too so there are more toys coming her way).
Anyway - I told the kid's I was giving the toys to Goodwill and I had full intentions of doing so too. Until I started sorting through them... oh there is the bear Kaylis got for Christmas from Gavin... oh that's the puppet I bought Gavin in London... get the drift? So I scaled things down - kept sentimental valued things and a few other toys that I know they really love. I have not given them back yet though and this is where it gets miniacle/genious like - lol.
I was thinking about wrapping up the toys for Christmas. Be honest, what is your first impression? And then if I do it and Kaylis realizes that they are all her old toys (which I'm sure will still excite her) do I tell her that I'm not buying her new toys until she can be responsible with the old ones?
This sure would save money and teach a lesson. I just don't want to be a mean mom. Do you think I could do this and get them a new toy or something for Christmas?

I think that's fine to wrap them up... or maybe give them an additional toy from your stash each week they keep their room clean or something? I think most kids today have way too many toys anyhow. I know Katherine does. The more toys they have the harder it is for them to clean when they are all dumped out, which I think can be overwhelming for small kids to pick up... Dh and I have been thinking of how to keep things in a small scale so the kids aren't spoiled by so many toys, or overwhelmed by the cleaning...

My SIL/BIL keep a few different rotations of toys (the entire crawlspace in their basement is toys.) They have so many toys from gifts and things, and they just rotate them into their house every 6 months, that way it keeps things fresh and new and the kids don't get tired of the "same old thing" but it's a LOT easier to keep clean.

I do the rotation thing too. I just keep boxes of toys in our attic. Every few months I will box up a load of toys, take them upstairs, then bring down a different box. Usually while i am switching out, I will weed a few out that they have outgrown.
As far as giving the old toys to them for Christmas, I probably wouldn't. I wouldn't want the wrath of family and friends, and also I wouldn't want my children to have that memory of Christmas. I do think picking up can be very overwhelming for children. Scale down as much as possible, use specific tubs and buckets with labels, or pictures for non-readers. I try to help my girls stay ahead of the game by watching when they get one toy out, then reminding them to put that toy away before they get out another. We also have a set pick-up time everyday before bed time so picking up is part of the routine. HTH

I am also famous/infamous with my kids for doing a "garbage bag cleaning"! My 5yo DD in particular is just so messy and careless with her things. I haul things to the garage and after a few weeks weed back through them, returning some and tossing some. I also make mine bag toys for goodwill each year before Christmas to scale down. Don't know if I'd wrap them up though. I like the idea mentioned above of giving back a few at a time as they keep things clean.