Hello readers and welcome to the second blog post of 2025! It is still hard to believe that we are in 2025 and in the second month! To be honest last month was a long month, with the snow and sickness hitting our household. For todays post I want to talk about a phrase that is fitting for the new year and that is “Out with the old, in with the new.” This is a phrase you hear at the start of every year. However, I am going to use this phrase to talk about toy rotation. In a previous post “Toys for my Tot” I wrote about the type of toys that my child plays with. However, how I get my son to play with his toys and keep his interest that brings us to this week’s topic of toy rotation.
Defining toy rotation
Although the definition of toy rotation is in the name, toy rotation is a way of keeping toys organized as well as giving your child the opportunity of selection without the feeling of being overstimulated. For a child on the spectrum, they can easily become overstimulated. Not only get overstimulated but they can quickly lose interest. Toy rotation not only prevents your child from getting overstimulated but also regains their interest in toys altogether. When toy rotation takes place for the child it is like receiving a new toy. They even begin playing with toys you didn’t even think they played with anymore!
Benefits of toy rotation
Just a warning to all the mamas out there, going through your children’s toys and rotating them takes time and effort! I will be the first to admit that I am still in the learning process of toy rotation, and I am having to discipline myself to pick out toys for my son to play with. It is easier for me to want to trust my three-year-old to keep himself occupied. However quite the opposite is true, but wishful thinking right! I am learning each morning to lay out two or three toys for him to play with and then observe if he plays with them or not. If not, I switch it out for another toy and then I say goodbye to that one. “Out with the old in with the new.”
I have a question for you all, we just celebrated Christmas, and your child received toys. My question is are your children still playing with those toys? Did they lose interest? If they are like my child, then they probably have lost interest. If so, don’t feel bad! This is one of the benefits of toy rotation is that eventually they will gain interest in those same toys. Once put away for a little while and rotated out. For this mama my reward for toy rotation is less clutter! And all my mamas said AMEN! Any mama knows there is satisfaction in getting rid of things and decluttering.
Beginning toy rotation
Now that you are aware of some of the benefits that I have found in toy rotation. The next question is where do I start? For me I just started with a tote and a trash bag. I took one bag and before I began with the rotation, I gathered all his toys and the ones that didn’t make the grade I got rid of. Then I put the toys that were left in a tote and his little toys in a bucket. Each week I pick a few of his favorite toys, a few sensory toys, and I introduce him to at least one new toy. When it comes to toy rotation the thing to remember is to select, schedule, and then store!
Hope this was beneficial to you readers, especially to all the mamas. I must now go and pick up my child’s toys and make sure he isn’t playing with anything that isn’t a toy! So long for now and may the odds be in your favor and hope all goes well with toy rotation and keeping your child entertained!