Toy Rotation

This is a tip we’ve mentioned before, but I felt the need to put another plug in.  We’ve become big believers in toy rotation.  This strategy has 2 benefits.  The first is putting toys away and out of sight helps keep the house clean.  I installed some shelves in the messy side of the basement and we stack rubbermaids full of toys, puzzles, etc.  This area is off limits to the kids so we get some measure of control of the toy dispersal.

The second benefit is when you bring out a box of toys that the kids haven’t seen in awhile.  A couple days ago I decided to clean the boys room and put everything away.  After I was done I decided it was time to put some of the toys away for awhile and bring something new out so I got the rubbermaid of matchbox car track.  When bed time came I told Ethan and Ben to each pick out some cars and there would be a surprise for them upstairs.  They did as I asked and went up to their room where I heard “Wow!  Cool!”  They played until I came to tuck them in for bed and the next morning when they woke up they resumed their track building.

Their room is a mess again, but I find it easier to manage when that mess is all from the same rubbermaid.  In a couple weeks I’ll put the rubbermaid away and get out another toy for them and it will be like Christmas morning all over again.