Can toy rotation work for you? A deeper look into this popular concept

The subject of toy rotation comes up quite a lot in social media and during day-to-day conversations. It’s a concept that works well for some and not for others. We thought we’d take a look at exactly what it means, why people do it and some easy ways it can be achieved if you want to give it a go. 

Where did the idea originate from? 

The idea of toy rotation has been around for quite some time, and it's difficult to pinpoint exactly who first came up with the concept. Today, it is often associated with a Montessori style of raising children, because the idea of toy rotation fits well with the Montessori approach.  

Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator who developed the Montessori method of education in the early 20th century, believed that children should have a rich and stimulating environment, but that too many toys at once could overwhelm them and hinder their development.  

For modern families, who tend to end up with lots of toys and playthings at home, toy rotation has become a popular way to reduce the amount visible for children at any one time. The idea is that this rotation of toys will keep spaces clutter-free, and that changing the toys around over time will help children stay engaged, feel able to play and avoid boredom. 

What does it really mean for my child? 

We know that most toddlers are curious and inquisitive, and this can mean that they love to have all their toys out at once.  

However, it can be hard for them to focus on playing when there is so much visual stimulation around, meaning they might move on quickly, or not get deeply engaged in their play, and so get out more toys or move their games to somewhere less cluttered. 

The idea of toy rotation is that by only having a smallish selection of toys available to your toddler, this sense of overwhelm when they pull everything out can be lessened, and when they start to show less interest in the toys available you can put some away and replace them with ‘new’ ones from your collection. 

But there are considerations to toy rotation like storage space, how many toys you leave for your toddler to play with, what to do about firm favourites and how to organise what they have left. 

These are decisions that are tricky to advise on in detail, as everyone has a totally different home and child. It is most likely that you’ll find what works for your family through trial and error – try not to let uncertainty stop you from giving it a go and seeing what works for you. 

If you are short on space, it might be hard to rotate toys as there is nowhere to put the ones that aren’t being used. You can achieve a similar sense of new-ness for your child by rearranging their play space using some of the tips and tricks we share below. 

If you do have a bit of space to try toy rotation you don’t have to buy any fancy storage, unless it makes you happy to organise this way! Perhaps save cardboard boxes from deliveries and use them to store toys in, these could be placed in or on top of wardrobes, in cupboards, on shelves or even in the boot of the car! 

There’s also no magic answer to how many toys you leave for your child, this depends on how they like to play and also the space you have. If you find the mess stressful, try different amounts until you find a happy medium which you and your toddler both enjoy. 

What do you do if your child asks for something that is not out? 

We say: let them go for it and dig out that treasure!  

If they want to play with something in particular, it means they've remembered it.  

Toy rotation is about giving space to play and maintaining interest, we wouldn’t want their interests to be kept away from them. If you also like the decluttering aspect of toy rotation, you could pop something less loved in storage when you get out the item they’ve asked for. 

Here are some practical and easy ways to embrace toy rotation, some of them might sound a bit like cheating the system... but who’s checking?  

Put away some of the toys your toddler isn't using while they're playing. Let them know you're putting away toys they're not using and leaving them with ones they are. This is the most simple form of toy rotation, and it keeps them interested in the present moment of their play.

When tidying, arrange toys in different places. Just finding toys in a different place can make them feel exciting and interesting. Although this could technically be classed as tidying, we like to think of it as toy rotation too, because the next time your toddler comes to play, things will have moved, and it’ll feel exciting to find them in an unfamiliar place. You may not want to do this every time you tidy, but it can feel good to mix things up every now and then.  

Ask your toddler what they would like to play with. Invite them to choose what they’d like to do. You can decide how much you would like them to get out and take it from there. This way, the toy rotation happens with very little thought, and your toddler enjoys what they are doing. 

Have a change around of your toddler’s play space. This can be as often as suits you and your toddler. Some children like to keep things in the same place, so they know where they are, and others enjoy having their toys and furniture moved so they feel new and fresh.  

Change only the toys your toddler can see. Place a changing assortment of toys in their line of sight so when they start to play, they can see and reach different toys. Keep everything else tucked away wherever works best for you. 

When a birthday or Christmas arrives, plan this into your rotation. One trick is to wrap up toys that haven’t been used in a while rather than always buying new, or keeping some of their new toys stored away to bring out slowly over the next few months to avoid them being missed in the chaos of lots of new things to do. 

Also, if you find broken or incomplete toys that can’t be used in any other way, get rid of them. There’s no point keeping hold of toys that can’t be used.  

If there is a toy or set of toys that they LOVE to play with, then keep them out while they enjoy them.  

And finally, if it doesn’t work for you then it’s totally fine. Toy rotation isn’t for everyone, and it shouldn’t be a source of any unnecessary stress.