• Home
  • About
  • Contact
    • Work With Me
  • My Shop
  • Start Here

A Mother Far from Home

  • Discipline
    • Toys And Play
    • Big Family
    • Family Culture
    • Diapers & Potty Training
    • Irish Twins
    • Teething
  • Emotions
  • Faith
    • Christian Holidays
    • Church Related
    • Spiritual Principles
  • Home
    • Cleaning & Chores
    • Meal Time & Eating
    • Organizing, Tidying & Decluttering
    • Emergency Preparedness For Families
  • Motherhood
    • Mental & Emotional Wholeness
    • Mother’s Helper
    • Type A Wife and Mom
    • Books to Read
    • Pregnancy
  • Routine
    • Baby Schedules & Routines
    • Toddler Routines & Schedules
    • Mom Schedules & Routines
    • School Routines
  • Sleeping
    • Sleep Troubleshooting
    • Napping Tips
    • Basic Sleep Tips
Home » Practical Parenting Tips » Toys And Play » 5 Problems That Are Solved By Rotating Toys

5 Problems That Are Solved By Rotating Toys

Updated January 13, 2021

6.4Kshares

Want simple chaos-erasing family routines? Who doesn't? Check out our Family Routines Reboot!

Want simple chaos-erasing family routines? Who doesn't? Check out our Family Routines Reboot!

If your kids have tons of toys, but don’t play for long with any of them, rotating toys is the answer! Read on for tips on toy rotation and why it works.


Have you ever stood in front of your closet and looked at all your clothes and thought….”I have absolutely nothing to wear.”

An entire dresser full of clothes, a whole closet full (perhaps your husband shares 10%) of dresses, skirts, shirts, running shorts, t-shirts… many many t-shirts… and yet there is nothing saying “wear me, oh wear me, I will make you look and feel good today.”

How is it a woman can have a closet full of clothes and still think there is nothing to wear?

Simple.

Because when we say there is nothing to wear, what we really mean is there is nothing new to wear. Your children are no different.

Except for them, it’s toys and not clothes.

wooden train set with duckie

I had a friend tell me when I was pregnant with my first that she separated all her toys into 3 bins/baskets/trash bags (whatever suits your fancy) and then let the kids have one bag at a time.

After a week or two, she’d switch.

I thought it sounded like a good way to save some money on toys and since I’m cheap, it stuck in my mind.

Toy Rotation And Why It Works For Kids And Moms

Kids don’t focus when they are “spoilt for choice”

Have you ever noticed your living room has exploded with primary color plastic and yet your toddler goes from one to the other in a matter of seconds and is still bored.

It’s because with all the choice they don’t sit down, dig in and learn to focus and use their imagination.

➡️ Giving your children too many choices will actually encourage them to Toy Hop.

When my kids have independent play time I take out a few toys each day and them fly. They will sit with one or two toys for almost an hour and sing and dance and do who knows what.

Both my oldest son and daughter will sit for thirty minutes looking at their books alone. It seems incredible, but it’s true.

They will actually play longer and focus when they have fewer options.

Related Reads:

  • How To Organize, Downsize, & Store Toys So The House Isn’t A Mess
  • The Difference Between Playing And Being Entertained
toy figurines on a stool

It helps keep toys new and fresh

We don’t give our kids all their Christmas presents at once.

I know, we’re mean parents.

We will have certain toys that are always out for play. LEGO at the LEGO table, dress up costumes, and a bunch of cars and trucks for the boys. Excess toys or toys that require more supervision (like craft kits, etc.) we keep in the attic and bring out as we think about it.

  • Set a reminder on your phone or make a boomerang in your gmail to swap out the toys at a time of your choosing.
  • Let your child have the gift of thinking that an old toy is new and fresh.
  • Even toys like blocks that are typically for younger kids, can be used by older ones to build forts or fortresses, walls, or seats.
  • One key concept that toy rotation accomplishes is novelty. 

Read: Age Appropriate Toys For Independent Play

 stuffed teddy bear that is being rotated

3. You save money

I like to spend more money on experiences rather than things.

Of course, I want my children to have toys so they can play, grow, and use their imagination. One thing that can happen (particularly if we’ve crossed our own boundaries with toys), is that we feel resentful when the kids don’t play with all they have.

This is a sign too many toys are around.

  • If you are on a budget (or have space limitations in your home) then rotating toys is a great way to save money because the novelty of the few toys you have remain much longer than if they’re on display day in and day out.
  • Less toys out means you get used to less toys which means you buy less toys.
  • Having less toys mean you value toys less which means you buy them less.

Read: How To Be A Present Parent

4. Kids learn to use their imagination

Children only really dig in and use their imagination when they have to.

If someone is entertaining them all the time, they will not learn to use their imaginations.

Those who are bombarded by constant streams of media will have less of an imagination than those who don’t. And I don’t mean the kind of imagination that imagines the things they’ve seen on TV, I mean true Anne of Green Gables type imagination and fancy that so enriches a child’s development.

If you send them outside and all they have is a plastic toy house then they come up with all sorts of things to do. It isn’t lazy parenting or neglect to limit their consumer appetites by rotating toys and having fewer on hand, and in fact, it may make them more appreciative of what they’ve already got.

Related Reads:

  • Screen Time Schedule: How To Prevent Meltdowns
  • Outdoor Play Tips To Get (And Keep) The Kids Outside
girl in water

5. Your house doesn’t turn into an off-location Toys ‘R Us

I know everyone has different opinions on the state of your house when you have children.

Some feel that if it is tidy and in order and there aren’t lots of toys visible that it isn’t “lived in” and children won’t settle in and feel at home.

I don’t really subscribe to this and like to keep a tidy house. Throughout the day there’ll be toys around and pillows and blankets and remotes scattered as little ones are wont to do, but I always make a point to tidy regularly and my kids do help.

I think that you can have a clean, orderly house  that is homey and welcoming to your children without being taken over by Fisher Price.

Many women could care less and love to see the toys as evidence of their growing babies and I think that is great for them, they are cultivating and keeping their home to their liking.

As every home should be.

If you are more in the camp that prefers for there to be less visible toys around, then rotating them and keeping them out of sight (except for the ones in use at the time) will surely help.

::

Want to learn your parenting style?

Each of us have our own personality, temperament, and giftings. And, the truth is, we parent best when we work with these instead of against them. Take this assessment so you can work to your strengths, and be the mom you want to be for yourself and your children.

Rachel

New to this community? Start here, friend.

6.4Kshares

Filed Under: Practical Parenting Tips, Toys And Play2

« What’s The Real Difference Between A Midwife And A Doctor In The Delivery Room?
Why Moms Lose Their Identity and How To Get It Back »

Recommended For You From Our Shop

Family Culture Planning Pack

Strong Families Don't Happen By Accident

Strong and happy families have carefully crafted Family Cultures.

They don't let guilt drive them, rather they spend their time and energy digging deep into a few key family areas that pay off in spades.

Families don't need to do more and more things, they just need to focus their attention on a few key areas that make for strong families, then repeat those over and over.

Click to Learn More

I'm Rachel, mother of 5 young kids living in the Florida panhandle with my Australian husband. I write about family culture, family rhythms and routines, and boundaries in motherhood and life. You can see snippets of my daily life here and visit my shop for baby sleep, organizing, and routine help.

“Inside my brain”

Geeezzz, it was like you were inside my brain today!  (and most days recently)  I needed this badly.

Thank you!!!
Andrea P.

“Nothing was working…”

I just wanted to say thank you for your easy peasy routine for 2 year olds! I day-weaned my 2 year old a month ago and have been trying everything to get him to go down for a nap without the nursing. Nothing was working and I was starting to think he would never have a nap again.

Anyways I started following your routine and we just sat in bed and had what I told him was “quiet time.” We sat and read and made a fort and had warm milk. Then today I told him it was quiet time again and he tried to escape the bed a couple times, but in the end he snuggled up after the warm bottle and fell asleep for 3 hours! I was almost in tears I was so excited! So thank you!

Meghan

“Thanks for your bundle!”

Thanks for for doing this Everyday Mom Super Bundle sale. I’m four months into my parenthood journey with a sweet and spirited boy.

I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated just yesterday, thinking if only I had the right resources and “trail guides” I could figure this all out. Your sale is serendipitous. I can’t wait to dig into my download materials and start learning from your tips.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Lauren N.

“It’s a breath of fresh air”

I just wanted to let you know that your blog and emails have been a tremendous help to me. Your practical, honest, and humble writing is a breath of fresh air!

With help and encouragement drawn from your writing, I have made some incredible changes in the order (and sanity) of our home, in just the past few weeks. My kids are doing chores daily, and I also have clearer expectations of myself.

My husband is in awe!

Which helps reinforce what you said- the problem wasn’t me; it was my systems. Our home is in much better order, and so is my mind. So, thank you!!!! You have made a difference for me and my family.

Ann S.

“We are slowly getting back to normal…”

I stumbled upon your blog one morning after praying night after night for God to fix my home! I had just had a baby this May 1st and also have a 2 and 4 year old and my home broke out in complete chaos!

Even my marriage seemed like it was on the brink of extinction and this had happened in 2 weeks! I read numerous amounts of your entries and applied them to my home life and I am happy to say we are slowly getting back to normal. Thank you Rachel! 

Madison S.

“You’ve been a life saver!”

I’m a first time mom to a 15 day old baby girl. I had no idea what I was doing and couldn’t get her to sleep in her crib until I found your blog.

You’ve been a life saver!

Candace R.

“Within a week or two our little girl changed!”

I tumbled into post partum depression/anxiety and didn’t know what to do anymore. I was a mess, baby girl was a mess and I don’t even know how my husband was dealing with it all… 

I googled everything I could think about but there was never really something that felt right, that felt genuine instead of just telling do’s and don’ts. 

And then I found your website and read your pieces about sleeping and eating. I carefully read through your schedules and decided to try it.

IT WORKED!! 

And within a week or two our little girl changed from a frustrated baby into this happy dappy smiling ray of sunshine, that is able to settle herself down by sucking on her fists, even in the middle of the night. At 12 weeks baby girl slept through the night and now at 20 weeks old she sleeps a good 10 to 12 hours every night. 

I just wanted to thank you for sharing your experience online. The way you wrote your experiences made it understandable, seeing it from the babys side but also the moms side. Maybe we were lucky that your way fitted our baby, but it worked and I tell it to everyone that wants to know!

Stephanie P.

“Had tremendous success from Day One!”

I just wanted to thank you for your sample routine.  I’ve been using it for a week with my 13 month old and had tremendous success from day 2! Wind down time is so important and so is consistency.  Thank you so much!!!

Sam M.

“In a few short days…”

I am grateful to have found your blog, as I do a great deal of searching on Pinterest when I am up against a parenting moment that I do not feel qualified to handle.

I will say though that since reading your blog I am really focusing on remembering that every moment is a learning \ experience for my son and I try to take a breath and count to ten. In the few short days that I have been exercising this method I truly have noticed a change for the better in his response to me.

Tami K.

Comments

  1. Melissa D says

    We do toy rotation, but I love how simple your process is. (I usually do one big swap each week.)

    Reply
    • Rachel Norman says

      I think a weekly swap is a great idea!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hey y'all, I'm Rachel Norman, BA, MS, Language of Listening® parenting coach, mother to 5 babies in 5 years on 3 continents, no multiples. Join me in parenting without losing your mind. Read More >>

Search

Copyright © 2021 All Rights Reserved | A Mother Far From Home | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility














15 Minute Projects To Get Your Home In Order

In just 15 minutes a night (while you're in your pj's!) take your home from stressed out to organized with these 101+ 15 minute projects. 


envelope
envelope
close
x