@bringingupbabe is a mom who has been practicing a toy rotation since her daughter, Babe, was born. Although she is not an expert, over the years, she has discovered what works best for her own situation, and she was gracious enough to share her thoughts and personal experience with us!

What is the reasoning behind a toy rotation?

I do toy rotation for a few different reasons. My daughter is more likely to play with her toys if she isn’t overwhelmed with a ton of options. It’s much easier to pick something to play with if you are choosing from a selection of materials on a shelf instead of digging through a toy bin. We also have a small home and don’t have a playroom. Her toys are in her room but also throughout our house, and a toy rotation helps to keep our home tidy. It’s so easy to pick things up when they are done being used because everything has a place! My favorite reason to do toy rotation (and the reason that keeps me motivated when it feels like a daunting task) is that she plays SO well after a rotation. She will notice her fresh shelf and react like it’s Christmas morning. Old toys are new again. It’s the best!

How did you start your toy rotation?

It was easy - I just put out a selection of toys and put the rest in bins in her closet! I’ve been doing it since she was a baby after reading all about it when I was pregnant.

How often do you rotate toys?

When I first started rotating, I did it weekly. Then every other week. These days, I don’t follow a strict schedule. Could be a week, could be a month! During the pandemic, we were home more often (more play time) so I rotated more often. I definitely rotate less in the warmer months since she spends less time playing at her shelves and more time outside.

What kind of toy rotation system works for you? How has it evolved since you began?

My system has always been sort of a wreck behind the scenes since we have limited storage space. I have 6 bins (3 big-ish and 3 small-ish) full of toys and I jam them all into the top of a closet. When it’s rotation time, I clear her shelves (leaving anything she’s still showing interest in or has requested to keep out) and make a pile of things to be put away. Then I pull out the bins, choose new toys, and put them on the shelves. Finally, I try to find space in the bins for the old stuff and shove them back into the closet.

I used to try to store items in different categories but I’ve let that go because it was too much of a challenge and things didn’t fit that way. I also used to try to make sure I had specific categories rotated onto her shelf at once, like fine motor, musical instruments, open-ended/building, pretend play, etc. I still do that sometimes, but sometimes it doesn’t work out and I don’t stress about it.

One last thing I do each time I rotate is keep an eye out for things that can be retired for good. Those go away in long-term storage or into the donation bin. Rotation space is too precious to let those things hang out. Plus, it’s easier to rotate if everything in the bins is age/developmentally appropriate and/or currently loved!

Do you adapt a rotation if you find Babe isn’t interested in one of the activities at all, or do you leave it out until the next rotation?

No, never. Toy rotation is already a chore (mostly because of my storage issue) and I personally would want to give that material a chance! Sometimes it just needs to sit for a few days before she’s inspired! If she really decides she doesn’t like something (this is a rare occurrence) I will make a mental note to make sure it gets put away next rotation. I definitely won’t retire anything if she doesn’t enjoy something once. I put it away for a bit, give it a couple more tries, and then make a decision. She gets plenty of toys each rotation, so I’m not worried if there’s one or two she doesn’t love.

How do you follow her interests and incorporate them into your rotations?

I just pay attention to what she’s reading, talking about, playing, watching, etc. For example, if she is on a Winnie The Pooh kick, I’ll make sure to put out her Winnie & Friends peg dolls into the mix. She and Dad are Lord Of The Ring nerds - when they’ve been reading The Hobbit or telling the LOTR stories, I’ll make sure to have her castle, dolls, and dragons out for her!

How often do you add new activities into your rotation?

Honestly, it just depends. We get monthly activity crates and sometimes those are big hits and end up in our regular rotation. Also, we are given gifts here and there and sometimes I just can’t resist buying something cute for her. I do love surprising her with a new toy here and there by leaving it on a freshly rotated shelf for her to find. It’s really fun to watch her find it! 

Do you keep certain toys always available to her? 

Yes! Those have changed over the years, but currently she always has her Legos and magnetic tiles, her dollhouse with mouse family, her other special dolls, art supplies, books, and play kitchen. I do rotate what’s available in the play kitchen from time to time just so it’s not super crowded. I also rotate her stuffed animals because like everyone else, we have too many and somehow we keep adding to our collection! 

If Babe asks for something that is not out, will you get it for her right away?

The answer to that is no, but I’ll let her know that I will make sure to put it out next time I rotate! I do this because it’s really not that easy for me to just grab a toy given our storage and because a little delay in gratification never hurt anyone (in fact, I personally think it’s a good practice for all of us!)

Is Babe with you when you rotate?

She never was when she was little because it would add to the stress. I would plan rotations for when she was out with Dad. She didn’t have access to or know where the other toys were because I didn’t want her fixating on them. When she got older and understood the concept of rotation, it was easier to have her there. She started saying “During the next rotation, can you put out xyz?” or “Do you think you can rotate my toys soon?”

I have established two rules if she’s with me during rotation: you must stay on the bed or out of the bedroom (where the magic happens) and no digging through the bins. She knows that if she does, she will be asked to leave the room. It’s fun to rotate together now and she has no problem following those rules. We put on some tunes and I get to ask her things like “Hey do you want me to put out the vet set or mail set?” It’s still quicker and easier to do it while she’s gone, though! 

What is your top tip you’d give to anyone considering implementing a toy rotation? 

Don’t overthink it and make your own rules! Do whatever works best for you and your children. If you feel like you put too many toys out, change it. If you think you didn’t wait long enough between rotations, stretch it longer next time! You will figure out your groove eventually.

Each family has their individual preferences and needs for their space. These insights are intended to provide ideas on how to start a toy rotation if you so choose. If you have experience with rotating toys, leave a comment below- we'd love to hear about it!