Promoting independence is key to having an environment that your child loves to play in. Playing for children should be voluntary, enjoyable and spontaneous, and always have purpose.

Before we started using a shelf for my littles toys, I found us both overwhelmed by the overflowing bin of toys, clothes, shoes, diapers- you name it. I just threw everything in this bin and honestly, only about 1/3 of the toys were being played with. It’s not until I did some research and decided to use a shelf and toy rotation system, that playtime was an actual activity- and my kid can play up to 25 minutes independently!

Displaying the toys in a neat, organized manner as opposed to piled up in a bin promotes external order in a child’s physical space. This in turn promotes an internal sense of order creating a calm and organized mind. Having a dedicated shelf / area to display the toys fosters independence and allows your child to pick which toys they want to engage with at any time. The shelf should be at a height for your child to reach on their own. It is important to offer a variety of toys, but not too many. We keep about 6-10 which helps with mastering those particular toys instead of being overwhelmed with too many options.

Also, make sure the toys are appropriate for the developmental stage of your child. Personally, I make sure to have 1 or 2 toys that are bit of a challenge which I have found to be effective in developing those skills earlier than expected.

Whenever I notice Jonah not playing with a certain toy I rotate it off the shelf and replace with a different toy from the bin, which is now hidden in the closet. (I’m in the process of creating a calm an organized mind myself, lol) By rotating the selection of toys, kids are able to focus and play more purposefully, and learn skills more effectively. It is important to observe your child while playing. If they are still actively engaging with the toys out, no need to rotate. Think of it as a child-led process. Some other great benefits of toy rotations are easier clean up which kiddos can help with and promoting creativity and imagination as kids learn to play with a particular toy in different ways.

How do you store your kids toys ?