Lets Talk: Toy Rotations
If I had to give advice to any parent (especially ones in a smaller space) it would be to rotate your toys.
But why would I rotate my kids toys?
There are many reasons but the main reason is over stimulation. Children have very little attention span and want to do everything and anything in the time they have meaning they are going to dump, get bored, throw/misuse the toy and not actively play.
Play is SO important, having limited toys allows your child to take the time to learn (from example and interaction) how to use the materials and actively spend their focus on creating. This also helps you feel relief, knowing there are only so many toys your child can dump, and allowing you to feel they can actively help you clean up rather than throwing everything into a basket and no one ever knowing what's on the bottom (usually missing pieces to a puzzle you have been searching for).
But what does that look like?
To start you want to understand the categories of toys, the main types being:
building, pretend play, fine motor, gross (large) motor, and my personal favorite: something to throw, and something to shake
Okay, so lets break down what those categories mean and toys that would fit into it:
Building: pretty self explanatory, but this is something to limit to 1-2 per rotation especially since you need a lot of pieces to actually play effectively (duplos, legos, magnatiles, wooden blocks...)
Pretend play: This is a very wide range of toys and can have a little more range of options (dress up, people, animals, vehicles, kitchen items-switching out foods/themes, doctor, makeup...)
Fine motor: Another wide range but switched to focus on different needs and age appropriate tasks like pinching, grasping, and writing (ring stacker, lacing, shape sorter, coin drop...)
Gross motor: most likely your child's favorite, this is usually the bigger items that take up the most space, so if you can rotate them do so, or change out the items used with them (nugget couch, slides, play structures, ladders, trampolines, tunnels literally anything your child can crawl, climb, run, and jump on)
Throwing: while this falls into gross motor it is imperative you have something available that you don't care if thrown in the house. This is mainly for redirection, "we do not throw those toys because they are hard and not safe, but here are some squishy blocks we can throw." Throwing is age appropriate for every child and something they need to practice and learn. You will find your child will navigate towards throwing most things they get due to impulse so giving them that outlet reduces the risk of getting smacked in the head with a wooden block, we have all been there. (balls, soft blocks, scarves tied up, socks rolled up,)
Shaking: I find that having something for them to shake with noise of course lets children experiment with different sounds, make music and see different outcomes in movement (sensory bottles-random stuff in a bottle, instruments, rattles, keys, honestly half the stuff in your kitchen- measuring spoons, pots and a spoon, bottle of liquid/sand/cereal/ect
Books: just an extra but keeping your child limited in books based off seasons, holidays, themes, or just grouped in sets of 15 or less gets them to value each book a little more (of course keep out the ones they favor)
Lots of information I know, but, it truly changes the game:
To start:
- lay everything out (literally everything)
- get clear tubs (so your not looking through every bin for something you might want)
- make choices on themes, skills, and overall grouped items you think should go together (farm magna tiles, farm books, farm little people, you get it)
-keep it limited, less is more, go through the categories and base your selection off them keeping a range of toys
-learn how when and when to donate and reduce
Here is a website that gives more information and gives some good ideas and links!
https://themovementmamablog.com/.../my-step-by-step-guide...
YOU GOT THIS
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