5 Reasons To Do Toy Rotations
Toy rotations are part of the Montessori approach where only a small selection of toys are put out for a child to explore. Once they have mastered the new skills or seem to lose interest, the toys are rotated out for different ones.
Why do them?
Because there are only a limited number of play materials out at one time, children will not become over stimulated. It will allow them to become engaged in a deeper way and to spend more time focusing on each toy. Other benefits of toy rotations include:
Increases a child’s concentration and ability to focus.
Fosters creativity and independence.
Helps children become responsible through tidying up and putting toys away.
It minimises clutter and allows more space for play.
Increases the play value of toys as they retain their novelty value.
You can start toy rotations as soon as your child begins to interact with toys on their own.
How often to do them:
There is no set time period for when to rotate the toys. It is based on your observation of your child. Toys should be rotated no more than once a week, and possibly up to every few weeks. Sometimes you may only change one or two toys, and other times you may swap out the whole set.
How to do them:
Introduce activities that help develop 3-4 skills at a time.
Limit the number of toys to 9-12 at one time.
Include activity-based toys as well as open ended ones.
Present toys in their incomplete state – separate puzzle pieces from their bases, put all shapes from a shape sorter in a separate container.
Organise the shelf with small baskets and trays so it is clear which items go together.
Observe your child to see what their specific interest are at that moment and which toys and activities they are losing interest in.
Even if you don’t adhere to the strict number and presentation of toys, rotating some toys in and out will still increase engagement and extend interest.
Where to store out of rotation toys:
It is best to store out of rotation toys away from the main play space and out of reach. Out of sight will usually mean out of mind which makes the toy rotations even more successful when you swap toys back in. I find it helpful to group toys by type and store them together so that it is easy to find what you need for the next rotation.
Read more about Montessori toy shelves.