Do you want to set up a toy rotation system and have no clue where to begin? These five easy steps will explain how to set it up so easily that you will be left wondering why you didn't do it sooner!
Toddlers— and all of their toys— can be extremely overwhelming, and if you're anything like me, you're wondering what the heck you're supposed to do with it all?! Whether you're short on space, tired of all of the clutter, or wondering why your toddler seems bored even though he or she has a surplus of toys, a toy rotation system is the solution.
After learning these five simple steps, you will be a toy rotation master!
This post is all about how to create a toy rotation system that is practical and sustainable for a busy mama.
Clutter & Focus = A Recipe for Disaster
Real talk: our kids are bombarded with stuff! From well-meaning friends and family members who gift the latest gadgets, to tablets and television, to the 389,473,893,894 hot wheel cars that pepper the floor that you always manage to step on...barefoot. It's a lot.
The truth is, if you're overwhelmed by it all the stuff, your kid is too.
There's no question that environment affects mood and behavior. That level-headed feeling you experience after clearing the counters? Or the sense of peace you feel after sorting through the pile of mail that's been lingering on the counter for forever? That's not an accident. Clutter creates chaos and confusion in the mind. The brain likes—craves—organization because it helps us make sense of the world around us.
I can't tell you how many times, as a teacher, I was asked to proctor another teacher's classroom, and I couldn't believe what a mess the space was. Picture this: not an ounce of free space on the teacher's desk, papers strewn haphazardly everywhere, books randomly stacked this way and that. It would stress me out— my type-A, organized inner-self would twitch. It was difficult for me to function, to be productive, I was only there for a half-hour. How on earth could the students focus surrounded by that mess? The answer: they couldn't, or at least not well.
How Toy Rotation Can Help
Now, admittedly, I am a neat freak and like my house very organized and tidy. I simply cannot rest when things aren't in their place. It always surprises me that being organized isn't natural to everyone because it's the only way I know how to be.
If you're a little bit more like my colleagues and wondering how to get all of the toys organized....don't worry! I am here to help you master this thing called toy rotation so that you—and your kids—can focus a little easier!
P.S. I'm assuming because you're here, you already know the many benefits of toy rotation—increased independent play, promote creativity, and improved behavior—to name a few. But if you want to dive deeper into the benefits of toy rotation, check out this article.
5-Step toy rotation system
1. Designate a storage spot that is convenient to store the toy rotation bins.
Deciding where to store your toy rotation bins doesn't seem like it's a big deal but, it's very important!
When I first implemented a toy rotation system, I stored the toy bins in the unfinished section of our basement. It was a nightmare. The upside? They were tucked away out of sight. The downside? They were tucked away out of sight.
Because they weren't in a visible spot, I never thought about them. When I did actually remember to switch out the toy bins, it was such a hassle to get them—I had to move other things out of the way—that I ended up never switching them out.
Learn from my mistake and plan where you will store your bins. Some toy rotation storage ideas include using a closet, a shelf, or a cabinet. The area that you designate should be easy and convenient for you. Find something that works with your house and your lifestyle—if it's a pain to access you won't use it.
One more thing to think about: your children should not be able to see or access all of the toy bins (i.e. don't stack the boxes openly in the playroom or living room) because it defeats the purpose of rotating the toys!
My toy rotation shelf is now located in my garage with all of the toy bins ready to go! It is super convenient to get to and I see it every day when I get in and out of my car.
2. Purchase toy rotation storage bins.
I remember telling my husband that I wanted to purchase toy storage bins for the kids' toys. His exact reply was, "You want to spend more money to store their stuff after you were just complaining that they have too much?" Touché
Okay, he wasn't wrong. Toy storage bins are an investment. If you're looking for quality bins, be prepared to shell out a little more than you'd expect. There are many different types of bins, and truthfully you may even have some plastic storage totes lying around that you can repurpose as toy rotation bins. Or, as a temporary solution, if you don't want to spend any money, recycle some larger cardboard boxes—just be sure to find ones that are roughly the same size.
If you're (a little) bougie like me and you like consistency, you will love these large-capacity canvas storage bins. They are a little pricey, but I am super impressed with the quality—they are durable and hold a lot. Plus, they have reinforced metal handles for easy carrying.
I started with a set of four and then bought an additional two bins giving me a total of six toy rotation bins.
Another bonus: Because they are opaque (rather than clear like a plastic tote) my kids love unboxing their "new" toys. I swear, when I switch out the bins, it's like Christmas morning. LOL
3. Gather ALL of the toys and determine which ones are the "essentials."
Whether you have a designated spot in your house where your child plays (which, by the way, according to the Montessori method is ideal) or your child plays all over your house (my family 
), gather all of the toys in a pile. I highly recommend doing this while your child is sleeping to avoid him or her reaching, crying, and whining, for every toy. Even the ones that he or she didn't look at it...in six months!
After you gathered everything, take a moment to catch your breath. There's more than you ever thought, right?
Now, begin to think about which toys your child reaches for every day. You know your child better than anyone else. If your child has a favorite doll or truck or fill-in-the-blank it's 100% okay to exclude those toys from your toy rotation.
A few examples I excluded from my rotation bins are my son's favorite cars, his train set, and all of my children's books. By implementing this toy rotation system I removed approximately 80% of the toys from my children's everyday play area, but their "tried and true" toys are still available to them for everyday play.
4. Sort toys by type and place them into toy rotation bins.
After the essentials have been pulled from the pile and placed on the side, begin to sort the remaining toys by type.
Toy categories may include:
- arts and crafts
- books*
- games and puzzles,
- building toys (such as Legos or Picasso Tiles
- gross motor toys (such as ride-on toys, cars, or musical instruments)
- social and emotional toys (toys that encourage make-believe play such as dolls, stuffed animals
*Books are a suggested category, but full disclosure, for my family, this is not an item that I put in their toy rotation bins. I have very strong opinions on building toddler literacy so we always have books out and available. If you want to include books in your bins I would suggest rotating a few select, special books, but leaving the majority of your child's library available at all times.
Don't get hung up on the categories. It's okay if you don't have the same number of toys for each category or if you're unsure which category a toy falls into. The categories are simply a guideline.
Now, line up those open toy bins and get sorting!
Don't stress — this isn't an exact science.
There's no exact science to sorting the toys. Ideally, to try to keep like toys together or toys that can be played with together, together. For example, you might want to pair dolls with a tea set. Another thing to keep in mind is pairing same-themed toys together. If your child has a Peppa the Pig puzzle, you can get bet that he or she will also ask for his or her Peppa the Pig figurines to go with it.
And this final tip is for your sanity: try not to place too many toys that contain many pieces into the same bin because everything will get dumped out and you will be the one left sorting the mess.
Oh, and one more thing: The toy bins are fluid meaning if your child is requesting a certain toy or the combination that you set up isn't working, it's very easy to switch the toys out or add new toys as your child gets new items.
5. You're ready: Start rotating those toys!
Toy rotation, in my opinion, isn't something you need to prepare your kids for. They went to bed one night, and the next morning I started it with them. They were super excited to get "new" toys and honestly, it was pure magic to actually see them play with their toys as if seeing them for the very first time.
I labeled each box with a letter of the alphabet so I can tell them apart. My kids identify them by letter as well, and my son will often ask, "Which letter tomorrow, Mommy?"
How often should you rotate the toy bins?
There's no hard and fast rule. I have heard of some moms who rotate the toy storage bins daily. In contrast, there are some families who switch out the bins weekly. Do what works with your schedule. A toy rotation system should not stress you out and once it's established, should require very little time (other than updating the toys within the bins every so often).
For my kids, I switch out the toy bins every four to five days. I knew switching out the bins daily was unrealistic (for me) so I settled on somewhere in between.
