Toy rotation is a fun way to de-clutter your home while also boosting your child's creativity and reducing stress and anxiety in your home.

With an organization strategy of rotating some of your kids' toys out of reach, you'll find an improvement in focus and independent play.

Surprisingly, with fewer toys accessible in play areas, there is a noticeable shift in mood and behavior among little ones and parents alike!

So What is Toy Rotation and How do You do it?

Toy rotation is a strategy where instead of having all the toys in the house out at once, you group similar toys into smaller, more manageable groups to play with and switch out on a regular basis.

Here's how to begin:

Start by first gathering all the toys in one place.

Take a look at what can be donated or stored away.

Group similar toys together. For example, put all the legos together, all the baby dolls together, etc.

Choose a collection of toys to have out.

Store the remainder out of sight to be switched out at a later date.

Some families chose to rotate the toys out every 5-10 days while others chose to rotate them once a month.

Find a rotation schedule that works best for your family and make it a fun event to look forward to!

The Unexpected Benefits of Toy Rotation

Kids play with toys for longer

Too many toys often lead to difficulty focusing and behavioral problems due to frustration and feeling overwhelmed by choices.

With the reduced stress and anxiety that comes with toy rotation, kids can play more freely and engage in more meaningful play.

This lends itself to more creativity, which keeps their minds engaged for much longer.

Now with more families working from home more than ever, the increase in independent play is a win-win and stress reducer for all!

Less Clean-Up

Parents have noted that after implementing a toy rotation schedule in their home they have less stress and anxiety about constantly keeping the house clean.

With fewer toys to pick up at the end of the day, the family has more time to do the things they truly love and enjoy!

The visible clutter can, for some, be overstimulating. 

Many mothers have said that less clutter greatly impacted their postpartum anxiety and depression. 

More Space to Play

With fewer toys in the play area, children now have the opportunity to move and explore the space with their toys in new ways.

Crawling, throwing and rolling toys along the ground are all fun and different ways to engage with the same toys in the open space.

The play area becomes more inviting as it is removed from the extra distractions. 

Not only is there more room to move about, but now playmates can more easily enjoy the stress-free environment as well. 

Major Money Saver

When the toys are rotated and a new collection of toys is introduced, there is often a period of rediscovery.

Previously purchased toys seem brand new all over again which is an instant mood booster for parents and kids.

With old toys seeming new again and again, the need to constantly replace and buy new toys is significantly diminished.

This is a major stress-reliever on the household budget and allows more financial freedom for other fun family activities. 

Conclusion

Resources 

https://www.onehundredtoys.com/blogs/news/toy-rotation

https://www.greenchildmagazine.com/rotating-toys/