My #1 mom tip for getting sh*t done and encouraging independent play was implementing toy rotation. I’m sad to report that a system that worked so well for so long is on the way out. It was a lifesaver from ages 1-4. But I’ve noticed that over the past few months, it’s been creating some problems. Let me rewind and give you the scoop on how toy rotation works and what I liked about it before I tell you what’s changed.
Toy Rotation
The name gives a pretty good idea of what toy rotation entails: you switch out the toys that your child has access to. I opted to keep the toys that weren’t available in tote bins in the garage. I kept a mix of different things in each bin. That way I could exchange one bin’s worth of toys for another.
Why It Worked for Us
Toy rotation worked really well for the layout of my house. My boys have toys in their room and in the living room. Toys could very easily have overwhelmed our small space. As gift giving holidays passed and they continued to collect more and more toys, not having all the toys out at once worked perfectly. Another reason this works so well is there’s a novelty factor to the “new” toys that get switched in. I used this to my advantage many times! I would switch the toys out in the evenings so I could drink hot coffee in the morning while my son played. If I needed to make a phone call, I would bring out a new bin. If it was a particularly long day, I would refresh the toys while he was down for a nap. But lately this system hasn’t been working so well.
What Has Changed
I can still bring out a new bin if I need a distraction for the boys. But two things are working against the system. One is a good thing: my 4 year old can play with the same toy for much longer. I’ve noticed this over the past year or so. That meant that I could go longer between rotations or even wait until he asked to get something new out. The thing that made me realize I need a different system is that he’s now requesting specific toys and there have been a couple of times where I couldn’t find that toy. While learning to deal with frustration is important, it wasn’t something I was trying to incorporate into the toy rotations. My bins of random toys aren’t the best option anymore.
I’d love to hear how you organize toys in a small space for your 5-8 year olds. I think our toys are in need of a declutter and reorganization. I know I don’t want all the toys available all the time. But I want to be able to find the Toy Story characters or the ball drop if he asks for them. This has served as a reminder that change is constant in motherhood. That our kid’s needs change and evolve and that means the strategies that work for us also need to change and evolve.
