Chances are, every year, it gets a little bit harder – the daily battle of the toys. Do you ever feel like the toys are winning? It's astounding… you pile them into closets, stuff them into toy boxes, and what happens? Moments later they magically reappear! You organize them, straighten them, and sort them, and then what? Bang! There they are again. Before you know it, you are knee-deep in brand-new, plastic, flashy junk because, now… it's Christmas! (Or some other occasion like birthdays, etc.)
Here is your new battle strategy: Toy rotation. Make like Julius Caesar and keep your toys at bay through the "divide and conquer" method.
WHAT'S THE PURPOSE?
You'll prevent your kids from getting overwhelmed by multiple choices if, allowing access to one group at a time, you divide their toys into separate groups. What they have can be easily seen and accessed. Everything gets appreciated and played with. Clean-up is a breeze because there's fewer toys on hand. But wait, there's more – every day can feel like Christmas because, every few weeks there's something different and new to play with. Anticipation is part of the fun.
TOY ROTATION – TIPS FOR WINNING THE BATTLE
Who's ready to begin toy rotation? For starting and maintaining a home toy rotation system, here are some tips and step-by-step pointers:
- In one place, assemble all the toys. This will show you what you're up against, but don't get overwhelmed. This is best accomplished when the children aren't around.
- Take out the enemy (or enemies). If it's obvious junk, toss it. Exhausted party favors, games and puzzles with missing pieces, broken toys, etc. all qualify. It's right to the garbage can for those offenders. If your kids have outgrown some of their toys, and they're still in good shape, rather than throwing them away, consider donating them.
- Same goes with same. Here are some groups into which you can place your kid’s toys: Books; motor skill/moving toys; emotional/social play; domestic/dramatic play; building toys; arts and crafts; puzzles and games.
- Time for a group attack. Groups of organized toys should be pared down as much as you can. Toys that don't get played with as frequently can go. For things like stuffed animals, how many does one really need? If there's no room on your child's bed for your child – they have too many stuffed animals.
Toy sets can be created now. From each identified group, you will choose several toys. How many rotation sets do you need? As many as six or as few as three should suffice. To comprise your selections, think about the following:
- What opportunities for creative cross-play encouragement are presented by each group?
- With each included item, how will your child play with it/them?
Suggestions would be to pair dolls with a tea set or Lincoln logs with small figurines/family. If toys have an alike theme or character, it's good to keep together. The toy sets you've assembled can now be packed into large boxes, bins, totes, etc. Be sure to label everything.
Now create your schedule – certain bins on certain days/weeks.
SHOP KIDPOWERED FOR ALL YOUR CHILD'S TOYS
Kidpowered has enough toys that, through the divide and conquer method of toy rotation, you will be able to give your child something with which to keep them entertained no matter which day it is or how you execute your rotation system.
Shop for box sets or individual pieces conveniently online, today.