Toy Rotation
It’s the day after Christmas, and as I sit in the aftermath of alllll the new toys, I am reminded of why I am such an advocate for toy rotation. My children received an obscene amount of gifts yesterday: Duplo sets, Lego sets, race car tracks, trucks, audio players, board games, etc. Yet they are whining constantly about wanting ANOTHER toy opened or taken down from their grandpa’s toy closet. When they get what they asked for, they play with it for less than 10 minutes and are on to the next. Part of this is the overstimulation of traveling for the holidays, but they are whinier than usual and there’s less independent play than normal (my dreams of reading on the couch all weekend while they play have quickly gone out the window). Everyone (including me), is less happy, despite the belief that new toys should make everyone happier. This is all because too many toys is too overwhelming, overstimulating, and just plain distracting. With more choice, multiple reputable studies (including this one from the University of Toledo in Ohio), prove that kids will actually play LESS. For info on why, check out this article.
So what to do about it in order to garner happier kids that will play independently longer? Limit their choice with toy rotation.
The most popular way to set up a toy rotation is to put the majority of toys into bins in a closet. Organize them by category (labels help), and only offer a small selection of toys at a time. Rotate this selection every 2-3 weeks. The selection that’s available can be presented on a low shelf (for babies), or in whatever cabinets or bins/shelves you use in your kid’s rooms or playrooms. Keep it to less than 12 toys/activities. The selection should also be varied. For example, a young toddler might have a puzzle, a stacking toy, a few trucks or cars, and set of magnatiles, some play kitchen food, and a few animal figurines.
If your child ignores a toy or activity for weeks even though it’s one of only 10 available toys, it’s probably time to donate that toy (or put it away for a while if it’s maybe not age appropriate yet).
If you have kids old enough to ask for toys that are out of rotation, I suggest storing them in a closet out of sight and reach (don’t use clear bins). It’s okay to make exceptions for toys that are used frequently for open-ended play, such as Legos or Magna Tiles. I keep both of those out for my kids most of the time, as they use them to creatively play with other toys that are out, such as building a garage for a car, or a barn for some farm animals.
Another way to manage this: own less toys;)
