In this post I’m sharing the Art of Toy Rotation and some quick tips for how to implement this game-changing system in your home!
Do you find yourself tripping over blocks, stepping on duplo or lego, and finding teddies all over the place?
Are your kids frequently complaining that they’re bored, despite having plenty of options to choose from?
Do you feel overwhelmed trying to tidy, organise and maintain your child’s sprawl of toys?
Well guess what!? If you’re overwhelmed, your child is too!
One simple way to address the issue is to introduce toy rotation.
what is toy rotation?
Toy rotation is a method of simplifying your child’s play space. Instead of having all their toys available for play, you limit their options to a smaller number and then put the rest in some easy-to-access storage. It’s almost like having a library, where you take out a select number of options, and then return them and switch to new ones when your child is no longer interested.
what are the benefits?
The thing I love about rotating toys is that it’s a win-win situation- great for kids and for parents!
Here’s some benefits you might see for your child:
- plays for longer periods as they aren’t so distracted by all the ‘stuff’ around them
- focuses more intently on the toy they’re playing with
- needs fewer toys as they discover the novelty of their existing toys each time they’re rotated back into the play space
- plays more creatively– fewer choices means they need to get more imaginative about how they use their options
- is more cooperative about tidying and maintaining their toys- it’s easier to today when there’s fewer things to put away
- fights less with siblings or friends- playing in decluttered play space allows for more calm and relaxed play
- initiates play more independently– we often think that more options means less boredom, but actually, feeling overwhelmed by toys makes it more likely a child won’t bother trying to play in the first place (think about how you feel cooking in a cluttered kitchen versus a clean, well-organised kitchen)
The benefits for parents are pretty clear. You’ll spend less time tidying up and maintaining toys, as there’s fewer to upend everywhere in the first place. You might also reduce time spent intervening on arguments, responding to complaints of boredom, and feeling frustrated by finding the toys sprawled throughout your home.
help your child identify their feelings
Learning the language of feelings helps us to communicate them more effectively. It’s easier to seek support from others when we can articulate what we’re feeling and what we need.
Get down to their level, speak calmly and kindly, and help your child label their emotions. Try using open invitations such as “I’m wondering if you’re feeling…” or “I can see you have big feelings right now. Are you feeling ____?”. This allows your child to reflect.
You may need to give your child time to calm down first. When we’re experiencing intense anger, sadness, or even excitement, it can be hard to connect with the parts of our brain that process language.
how many toys do i make available?
It’s really up to you how many toys you put in your child’s play space. But there are some things to keep in mind:
- your child’s age (fewer toys works better for younger children)
- your child’s capacity to keep their toys tidy (fewer choices if they struggle, or at least reduce the number of multi-piece toys on offer at once)
- how sensitive they are to being overwhelmed or overstimulated (again fewer is better if they’re more easily overwhelmed)
- the amount of space you have for presenting their toys (smaller areas look cluttered more quickly)
We use Montessori principles at home, so personally I follow the recommendation of 8-10 toys available at once.
I’d suggest starting with 8 and then observing your child and making adjustments as necessary. The shelves above are from when my youngest was 11 months old. At the time he was mostly focused on walking and climbing so I only put out 6 options.
The main thing to remember is to offer toys your child is currently interested in– whether that’s because they fit with an area they enjoy (e.g. construction toys) or they develop a particular skill your child is wanting to master (e.g. threading beads). With fewer toys on offer, it’s so much easier to observe what your child is playing with regularly and which toys might not be meeting their current interests or developmental stage.
how often do i rotate toys?
This depends on your child’s developmental stage, their interests and how often you feel like handling toys! Rotate toys when skills have been mastered, or if your child isn’t interested in the type of play or skill development the toy is offering. In my house, rotating toys once a week tends to be about right, sometimes more if it’s wet weather and we’re home more.
storing toys that aren’t in rotation
Using any system that fits your home and lifestyle will do, so long as it’s easy for you to switch out toys.
I personally like to group toys in categories (e.g. all the puzzles together, all the vehicles together, etc.) and find this makes it very simple to rotate. We use several of these units inside our children’s wardrobe, as the tubs keep things organised and can be transported from one area to another easily. But any containers, drawers, or shelves are fine.
sometimes change takes time
Like with any change, children might be a little resistant at first. But they’ll soon notice how much more fun they’re having playing in a clutter-free space without the anxiety of a giant clean up or a grumpy parent at the end!
