What exactly is Toy Rotation?
Toy rotation is the practice of making only a select number of toys available to children at one time, while storing the rest. Periodically, the available toys are swapped out for those in storage. This simple practice offers numerous benefits for children’s development and engagement.
Many parents believe that providing a multitude of toys will enhance their child’s development, but often, the opposite is true.
There’s no strict rule, as the ideal frequency can depend on the child’s age and individual preferences. However, some insights suggest:
There’s no one-size-fits-all schedule, but here’s some guidance:
Emphasize a balanced toy mix that supports various developmental domains. One toy can support multiple skills when used creatively.
These relatable signs can help parents identify if toy rotation would be beneficial:
References
Al Kurdi, B. (2017). Investigating the factors influencing parent toy purchase decisions: Reasoning and consequences. International Business Research, 10(4), 104–113. https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v10n4p104
Frödén, S., & Rosell, A.-L. (2019). Opening an imaginative space? A study of toys and toy play in a Swedish Waldorf preschool. Nordisk tidsskrift for pedagogikk og kritikk, Special Issue: “Steinerpedagogikk,” 5, 186–201. http://dx.doi.org/10.23865/ntpk.v5.1383
Maimaran, M., & Salant, Y. (2019). The effect of limited availability on children’s consumption, engagement, and choice behavior. Judgment and Decision Making, 14(1), 72–79.
Morrow, L. M. (1990). Preparing the classroom environment to promote literacy during play. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 5(4), 537–554. https://doi.org/10.1016/0885-2006(90)90018-V
Nilsen, E. S., & Valcke, A. (2018). Children’s sharing with collaborators versus competitors: The impact of theory of mind and executive functioning. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 58, 38–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2018.08.001
Orri, M., Côté, S. M., Tremblay, R. E., & Doyle, O. (2019). Impact of an early childhood intervention on the home environment, and subsequent effects on child cognitive and emotional development: A secondary analysis. PLOS ONE, 14(7), e0219133. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219133
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