- More than 9 in 10 (94%) parents say their children have toys they no longer play with or have outgrown, with parents estimating that over a third (39%) of the toys their children own fall into this category.
- Despite this, children across the UK are expected to unwrap around 129 million new toys this Christmas, equivalent to 9 per child, with parents spending an average of £247 on presents per child.
- Hungry Horse is encouraging families to Play It Forward this Christmas, turning festive toy clear-outs into an opportunity to give toys a new home and help children discover the joy of giving.
- Toybox Donation Stations will open at participating Hungry Horse pubs nationwide from 12 November, inviting families to give good-quality pre-loved and new toys a new home this Christmas.
Hungry Horse is calling on families to Play It Forward this Christmas, as new research reveals Britain’s toyboxes are already bursting at the seams, with around 129 million new toys expected to arrive this festive season.
Parents estimate that almost two-fifths (39%) of the toys their children own are no longer regularly played with or have been outgrown. With the average child expected to unwrap another 9 toys this Christmas, the run-up to the big day could be the perfect opportunity for families to make some much-needed space.
How to donate toys this Christmas
Families can drop off good-quality pre-loved or new toys at participating Hungry Horse pubs from 12 November until 19 December 2026. Check the participating pub finder before making a trip.
To help them do just that, while opening conversations with children about giving to those less fortunate, Hungry Horse is bringing back its Christmas toy donation initiative. From 12 November, participating Hungry Horse pubs across the nation will become Toybox Donation Stations, giving families a convenient place to donate good-quality pre-loved and new toys for another child to enjoy this Christmas.
Andrew Gallagher, Brand and Marketing Director at Hungry Horse said: “Christmas is such an exciting time for families, and Play It Forward is about bringing some of that excitement to giving gifts as well as receiving. By choosing a toy together, families can give something that’s no longer being played with a new home, while helping bring some extra joy to another child this Christmas. We hope it becomes a simple but meaningful part of families’ festive traditions.”
The initiative is designed to make donating something families can do together, encouraging children to choose a toy they are ready to pass on and helping introduce giving as a positive festive tradition alongside receiving.
Helping children discover the joy of giving
Dr Amanda Gummer, research psychologist and leading authority on children’s play, parenting and child development, said: “Toys can hold a lot of sentimental value for children, so it’s important to involve them in deciding what they’re ready to pass on rather than making that decision for them. Giving children that choice helps them feel in control and can turn the experience into something positive.
“Starting small can make it feel less overwhelming, and there’s no need to force them to part with sentimental favourites. Instead, talking about where their toys are going next and how something they’ve loved could now bring joy to another child can help make giving feel meaningful rather than like a loss. It can also help children develop empathy and generosity, while appreciating what they already have.”
The research also suggests families are open to embracing the spirit behind Hungry Horse’s Play It Forward initiative. Almost 4 in 5 (79%) parents believe their children would be happier to part with an old toy if they knew another child was going to enjoy it, while more than three quarters (77%) would like donating toys at Christmas to become an annual family tradition. For families considering a festive clear-out, the research suggests there is plenty of opportunity as more than half (57%) of parents plan to clear out their children’s toys before Christmas, while more than a quarter (27%) regularly struggle to find room for new ones.
Deciding what to part with isn’t always straightforward, however. More than a third (34%) of parents have held onto a toy because their child refused to part with it. Yet more than 4 in 5 (83%) say their children have good-quality toys they no longer play with that could be enjoyed by another child.
With Hungry Horse’s Toybox Donation Stations providing a convenient way for families to pass on these toys, professional organiser and decluttering expert, Lynsey Crombie, says: “The run-up to Christmas is a great time to reset the toybox before new presents arrive. Start small, involve the kids and focus on what they’ve genuinely outgrown or stopped playing with. The best clear-outs aren’t about throwing things away, which is why initiatives like Play It Forward are so useful – they give families an easy way to make space while giving perfectly good toys a new home.”
The giving spirit is already taking hold across the country as families in Northern Ireland are leading the Christmas toybox clear-out, with more than half (55%) planning to sort through toys ahead of the big day. In Scotland, 9 in 10 (90%) parents encourage their children to think about giving as well as receiving, while in London, more than a third (36%) say their child has independently asked to give something to a child who has less than them.
Convenience could be key to getting more toys out of cupboards and into the hands of children who will enjoy them, with more than a third (35%) of parents saying a local drop-off point would encourage them to donate more unused toys. With participating Hungry Horse pubs opening their doors as Toybox Donation Stations this Christmas, Play It Forward aims to make it easier for families to turn good intentions into meaningful donations.
Hungry Horse’s toy donation initiative is now in its 6th year, with over 70,000 toys donated since it began. Building on this legacy, Hungry Horse is once again inviting families to Play It Forward, giving toys a second life and helping spread festive joy to children who need it most. The scheme will run across participating pubs from 12 November until 19 December.
To find your nearest participating Hungry Horse and learn more about the toy donation initiative, visit the website.
Image: Hungry Horse
