How to Successfully Set Up Toy Rotations for Toddlers and Children

Picture this: You open up your closet and stare at all of your clothes. Things are shoved into spaces, and it’s hard to see everything clearly. You have been looking at this same overstuffed closet for months now, and it seems redundant. You feel overwhelmed and walk away, claiming you have nothing to wear.

Now, you are filled with an urge to buy something new to add to your abounding wardrobe.  

Sound familiar? That overwhelmed feeling is exactly what our children feel when they walk into a playroom or living room bursting with toys.

Too many toys at once leads to bin dumping, shallow play, and the inability to initiate play. A trip to the toy aisle feels like a quick fix, but it’s not sustainable. There are multiple solutions to having fewer toys available, but my favorite method is toy rotation. 

Toy rotation is a strategy of toy management that involves storing away most toys and intentionally switching out a small selection at regular intervals. For us, it’s every 1-2 weeks, depending on how much time we spend at home and indoors.

Having fewer items available leads to less mess, faster cleanup, and deeper play. It renews interest in toys your child already owns, and enhances focus, creativity, and independence. Toy rotation is inspired by the Montessori philosophy of education. 

While the concept of toy rotation is widely known, the system I have designed is unique. After spending countless hours watching students of various ages interact with different types of toys over my years as an educator, I noticed some rotations were more successful than others. 

Set Up 7 Categories

Thanks to my time both in the classroom and with my own firstborn child at home, I created the Set Up 7 system. This system features seven different categories of toys.

Each time I complete a rotation, I use 7-10 items and I make sure to have all seven categories covered. I also store my toys by category. This system was created with the focus age range of 10 months to 7 years.

Category 1: Solve

This category is for toys that have one clear outcome and can be solved. Any puzzle or toy with a clear and closed end result will fit in this category. Some options include puzzle games like the Nature Feel and Find Set. 

Category 2: Build or Create 

This category is for toys that are open-ended and allow a child to build or create something. Any type of building toys, such as blocks, fit within this category. Other options include the Tabletop Notch Block Sets. 

Category 3: Push or Pull

Children love to push or pull things around, and something within this category is a must! Any type of car, truck, wagon, train, or cart fits here. This can be a large toy or a small one depending on what other items you are offering during this rotation. Some options include wooden vehicles like the Wooden Front Loader or the Wooden Dump Truck. 

Category 4: Music or Sensorial

This category is for any toy that stimulates or refines a sense. Of course musical instruments fit here perfectly. Other items that fit this category would be play silks, sensory or fidget tubes or bottles, stress balls, mirrors, or translucent items and a light table or window. For older children, a mobile sensory bin on the shelf would also work nicely. 

Category 5: Text Connection

It’s great to tie in text whenever possible, and showing a child that a book is connected to something in their world has incredible value. So each rotation, find a text (new or old) and a play item that can be connected to that text. It may be a stuffed animal, a figurine, a vehicle, or anything else that lends itself nicely to the text. 

Category 6: Task-Based

This category holds any toy that encourages completing a task but is open ended. This means there are multiple ways the item can be played with. Items in this category may be a peg board, a pounding bench, a geo board, a lacing toy, drawing board or any other item that has multiple desired outcomes. 

Category 7: Discovery  

This is your random pass for the toy shelf. You can fill this category with a brand new open ended toy to explore like Acrylic Unit Blocks, a basket of items from around the house, that ball that your kiddo always wants available, or the trinkets from your last goodie bag. Explore our Educational Toys category to find other options that your child might love!

When displaying toys on the shelf, be mindful about the messaging you are sending to children. Opt for shallow and light baskets for materials containing smaller pieces. This allows a child to easily bring that set of pieces down from the shelf to begin working. Also be sure to offer puzzles or other “solve toys” undone. A finished puzzle gives little motivation for a child to complete it, while an undone puzzle offers motivation and avoids intimidation. Display items with space between each toy or basket. This helps the eye separate different play options. Display your text in a forward facing manner to ignite curiosity. 

Once you understand the driving forces behind toy rotation, learn my unique categories, and prepare to properly display items, you are ready to sort through your toy collection and give it a try! As a parent, you know your child best. It’s important to observe your child during play to see what adjustments you should make for the next toy rotation.