This time I put my suggestions on rotating toys to the test. I put away all of the toys from the previous rotation and then I filled the shelves with what felt right. I didn’t count or think of what kind of toys I was putting out, because I wanted to see if the rotating rules could become second nature and something you could learn to do very quickly. If people are really going to rotate toys and consider categories, it has to happen in a reasonable amount of time. It only took me about 5 minutes to pick the new toys and set them up. When I was done, I snapped some pictures for you so you could judge the outcome.
This is what we ended up with from the top of the shelf down…
- Baby Diaper Changing Set
- Shape Sorter
- Band Set
- Pet Puzzle
- Blocks
- Microphone
- Ball
- Stuffed Turtle
- Nesting/Stacking Cups
- Purse & Phone Set
Plus, ten books, the kitchen and doll furniture set, and the chalkboard.
So, how’d I do? I’d say not too bad on the overall numbers, just over by a few toys. But what about having the right balance of toys? While some of them surely overlap, this is the basic breakdown by category…
Thinking Toys (5) – Shape sorter, Pet Puzzle, Blocks, Nesting/Stacking Cups, and Chalkboard
Moving Toys (2) – Ball, Band Set
Pretending Toys (5) – Baby Diaper Changing Set, Microphone, Stuffed Turtle, Purse & Phone Set, and Kitchen & Doll Furniture
I think that’s pretty good. I probably could have a few more moving toys, but we visit the park most days to allow her to climb, swing, run, and jump, so I’m not too worried about that area of development being neglected.
AND, now we know it’s doable. You CAN learn these rules, apply them quickly to your rotations, and end up with a simple, smart, and fun play space.
What do you think? How’d I do? Is this a play space your little one would enjoy or is something missing?
I often write about toys here at Little Stories, if this topic is of interest to you, be sure to subscribe in the top right hand corner of this page to get my toy tips right to your mailbox.
Also, be sure to read my post “Toy Rotation – The Rest of the Story” where I clarify all your questions about children of different ages, multiple children and storage!
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I think it’s perfect… just enough for them to feel like they have a choice in their play but also just enough so that it’s not overwhelming and nothing gets played with fully. I love rotating toys at our house too. Things get used so much more and in more meaningful ways. This goes right along with my post from last week! http://www.theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/2012/02/baby-time-ideas-for-creating-and.html
Kim @ The Educators’ Spin On It recently posted..Little Hands that Cook with Books: Heart Healthy Foods
Kim, I’m glad to hear that you rotate and find it manageable! I think a lot of us want to rotate and think it’s a good idea, but also think it seems to difficult. It doesn’t have to be and your post from last week shows that as well!
Kim recently posted..Rotating Toys, The Real Deal
New follower here! Got ya in my Reader now. Pop on over to mine when you get a chance.
Love your site! My son has Speech Apraxia so I’m always looking for new SLP blogs to follow!
Oh and welcome… great to see you on KBN
The Mommies Made Me Do It recently posted..Kids Co-Op Weekly Playdate
Hello and welcome! I hope you will get some ideas that will help your son and I’m heading over to your site now!
Kim recently posted..Rotating Toys, The Real Deal
So….. I’m up for trying this – we’re making some boxes this week and I have cleared space in J and T’s rooms to store toys not in rotation (my mum also thinks this is a brilliant idea) – so here’s my questions : –
Approximately how many “toys” to have out –
2 children with different development stages do I have separate toys and toys that they can both get play out of
How long to leave a rotation of toys out for – weekly change, monthly?
When it’s a toy say farm – do you put out all the farm animals or just some?
Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum recently posted..Explore Outdoors – Zoo Adventure
I’m so excited you are going to give it a try! I can’t wait to hear how it goes! And I LOVE these questions. Here are my answers…
1) Having different kids at two different stages can be tricky. Start by remembering the good toy rules (http://thelittlestories.com/2011/12/07/toy-shopping-dos-and-donts/), focusing on the fact that most good toys are going to be good for children at MANY developmental stages. For example, a kitchen set your older child may use to cook chocolate chip spy food and your younger child may choose to take the food in and out of the same pot over and over.
BUT I know there are toys, like puzzles and such, that no matter what are developmentally driven. SO…in each rotation I would have a combination of toys – some toys that work well for both children and then sets of toys that are developmentally focused. For example, if for one of my thinking toys I wanted to use a puzzle, I would put two, maybe a simple jig-saw puzzle for the older child and a wooden inset puzzle for the younger one.
2) The length of the rotation I usually suggest is two weeks, but it is certainly child-driven. We often can squeak out three weeks. Weekly for me is too much of a chore, but see what works for your two (and you) and let me know.
3) A lot of moms want to know about sets, like farm or train, and how many pieces should be available. This is really dependent on the developmental stage of your child. A higher developmental stage allows for more complicated play and more pieces without getting overwhelmed. From my work, I find that younger children (18 months- 2 1/2) can handle around 3 pieces (ex: cow, pig, chicken), whereas older kids are usually ready for 5-9. BUT always keep in mind, it’s better err on the side of fewer pieces, because less is more!
Kim recently posted..Rotating Toys, The Real Deal
My 16-month-old daughter has one cabinet in our kitchen that she is allowed to play in. She is only allowed to play with the plastic reusable water bottles that are in there. She is very good about not playing with other things in the cabinet. She loves to put the lids on and off, bang the bottles on the floor, and talk into them. They are a great learning tool for her. Do you think I should include these bottles as part of the rotations of toys? I would probably replace them with other kitchen items like containers, wooden spoons, spatulas, etc, but I’m concerned that I will have to reteach her not to play with the other things in the cabinet. Is it worth it?
Hi Samantha! Great question.
As long as your daughter is entertained and the bottles are working, I would leave it alone, and keep them out of the rotation! If she starts to show boredom, by playing with the other things, or not showing interest in the bottles anymore you could rotate and just keep the things that she is allowed to play with in a box or other container in that cabinet. Then she’d know that what’s in that box is hers to have fun with!
What do you think?
Kim recently posted..Rotating Toys, The Real Deal
This is so amazing. I feel completely overwhelmed by the number of toys my kids have. Where do you store the other toys you aren’t using? If i put all the toys away I would have boxes and boxes. I know this is obnoxious and I am trying desperately to move away from this. I don’t think so many toys is necessary but convincing other family members is difficult.
Hi, Kami! I know how overwhelming toys can be I only have one little one!
The first thing to do is decide if you want to keep all of your toys. I would go through them to make sure they are all “good” toys. The post “Toy Dos and Don’ts” will help you decide (http://thelittlestories.com/2011/12/07/toy-shopping-dos-and-donts/). Then organize, make sets, and store what isn’t in the ‘out’ rotation.
Where do you have your toys now? You can use the same space that you are using now but maybe in a different way. We have toys tucked in all kinds of spots in our house (ex: attic, living room ottoman, closets). Let me know how it goes!
Kim recently posted..But I Can’t Understand What My Child Is Saying!
Hi Kim, I am from the DIY/Decor blog world but I am a former childcare director and designing child friendly spaces in the home and in centers has always been my passion. I too try to do my best to rotate toys at home. We are in transition at our new house right now but I would love to write about this concept one day. For now I tweeted and facebooked your post instead. I think sometimes people feel like all the toys need to be accessible. Instead, it becomes so overwhelming for everyone. I have over 75% of our toys in the attic and then I will rotate them out and all of the sudden it’s like we have brand new toys. I think the key is to make sure you have a variety of materials at all times. Great post. Well done.
Hi, Lesley. I checked out your blog and will be following you closely. Beautiful and fun ideas!
You are so right about having the right variety of toys. I think when people think about rotating they don’t know where to begin. If you break them up into thinking, moving, pretending it’s at least a place to start.
I’m so happy you stopped by and took the time to comment. I look forward to connecting with you more!
Kim recently posted..But I Can’t Understand What My Child Is Saying!
Thanks so much. I will be following along as well. I did a post recently about Cozy corners and my mom posted about involving children in DIY. I feel that a lot of what I implemented in my center and classrooms as an educator can be very useful homes as well. I hope to show that to other parents. I am very happy I found your site through Pinterest and now will follow you on Twitter as well. Lesley
Hi Kim,
I have been reading your thoughts on toys, books and rotation and am keen to try a rotation system for my children (their ages are 5 3/4, 2 3/4 and a 11 weeks. My question is about the dressups. We have a pretty eclectic assortment of dressups that are stored between a small cupboard (for the stuff that I can put on hangers) and a basket beside it (for all the hats, wands etc). I am wondering if I should rotate these as well as part of the pretend category or if I should leave them all accessable? I am keen to hear your thoughts
Thanks
Hi Ronnie! I checked out your blog and I’m so inspired by all of the wooden and handmade treasures your children have to play with. I’m intrigued by the Waldorf model and looking forward to learning more from you.
Now to your question. Depending on how many dress up items you have, I would rotate them. I would make sure the two older children have a few choices each so that they can experiment and mix and match, but not get overwhelmed and overlook items.
Kim recently posted..But I Can’t Understand What My Child Is Saying!
Hi Kim! I just want to say, first, that this is a wonderful, awesome blog subject. I have always gravitated toward minimalism, and the less is more concept, but never knew truly how to put it into action, or exactly the concept in words on paper. Also, my parents and sister are both hoarders to a degree, and they all are extremely sensitive about “throwing” or “giving” stuff away. I was like that until I got married to a wonderful man, who is in the military and I realized that a neat house with less things is so much more welcoming and relaxing than one with insane clutter and tons of chatchkies (sp?). Anyway, this kind of thing is wonderful to learn about, and I have already gotten my kids’ toys down to the best ones, and now to rotate. My question is: I love certain kinds of toys so much, such as the kitchen, the baby dolls with accessories, the dollhouse, and plastic animals, that rather than get different toys, I end up building the sets. In other words, I have tons of baby accessories, tons of plastic animals, and tons of plastic food for the kitchen, and TONS of dollhouse furniture. I feel like if I take most of them away, it limits my girls so much. I feel like your advice would be to limit the dollhouse furniture to maybe a bed, a dresser, and a dining set, and maybe a couple of dolls. To me, that’s so…I don’t know, limiting! I love the idea of limiting, but it is scary, in a way. What if she wants to put all of the furniture in and make the hosue complete, and can’t… I guess maybe I am obsessed with completing sets (I admit that about myself) and always feel kind of incomplete if a set is incomplete. It’s not like they’re not going to have fun without ALL of the furniture, and I know this. I just need a little encouragement in the right direction, I suppose!
Thanks for this awesome blog!
–Katy
Another thing I guess I want to add:
the large sets (the baby stuff, animals, legos, dress-ups, and dollhouse) are up and out of sight in plastic bins in my little girl’s room. She has a couple of hours of “quiet time” in her room during the day, and plays by herself for a few hours at night after I put her to bed (she usually crawls in bed when she gets tired.) For these hours of the day, I bring down one (just one) of the bins, whichever she asks for. I thought maybe that was okay, to bring down just one of the large sets for her to play with by itself, of those larger set items. The rest of the random toys, like learning toys or stuffed animals, I keep only 5 out downstairs for my 1 year old, and I have decided to keep out 10 books for my 3 year old and 5 books for my one year old. It’s actually fantastic, but wondered what you thought of my other routine for my 3 year old’s quiet time?
Katy-
Welcome to Little Stories! These are great questions. The main thing about rotating toys and how many pieces to a set is to keep in mind that if you’re child can handle it (ex: engaged in play) then it’s probably okay, but you may create even more interest and continued play if you break up the set a little. For example, with the dollhouse furniture, I may leave out all rooms of furniture one rotation, three rooms another rotation, and then three different rooms the next rotation. You don’t want toys to be limiting, but you also don’t want them to be overwhelming. Your quiet time routine and number of books sound right on. I can’t wait to hear how it goes. Also, please share pictures to our Facebook page when you’re done if you’d like. Other parents love to see how others are making these concepts work in real life!
Love these posts. I am overwhelmed by my daughter’s toys and so is she.
(She will be 4 in October.) We have found that her father & I are her favorite toys. She would rather hang out with us then play.
We are moving in 4 weeks so I will definitely do this when it happens and let you know what happens. My daughter personally has 3 stuffed animals that she carries around all the time and of course a ton of other ones. I will probably do 3 or 4 other ones as a unit because most of her play is imaginative.
The hardest things will be to reduce the books. I just reduced them for moving so it has been hard (my mil is a children’s librarian). However, we go to the library a lot each week. So I figure maybe 10 of her books and 10 library books.
Thanks, Jennie PS…we are currently right down the street from you in Statesboro.