Rude Awakening!!

[Happy Hearts]

I am in the process of stowing away all of the toys!!! Each set gets a basket and is being put away high!! All big toys (one piece) will be within reach.

Play kitchen stuff (I have lots) will be parcelled individually with enough for 2 "meals" with plates, utensils, etc. I should have about 5 sets when I'm done. They may have one set each when playing with it. It comes back to me when they're done.

Their favourites, the medical kit and the tool kit, are very high. I'm so tired of searching for the wrench or the syringe when cleaning up. Jiminy Crickets they hurt when you step on them, too.

All the different kinds of blocks and legos. You know it..... packed in the closet. They'll be special toys when every thing is put away. Focus children.

Tickle Trunk. Only the hats are left in it. Everything else is on a hanger - up high. Hats are relatively easy to clean up and don't hurt when you step on them.

Puzzles, montessori trays, colouring - guess where?!?! In bins, up high.

I'm so happy right now

[Willow]

I did this and found the kids got soooo much more out of free play time.

Instead of just looking at a massive room full of of stuff and becoming overwhelmed trying to decide what to do they instead choose a tote and focus on that one activity so much more intently and with so much more enjoyment.

Toys and activities are treated with so much more respect and the house stays so much more picked up.

[daycare]

I also put everything up out of reach about a month ago. If it is not set up in open centers, then they have to ask to have it down one box at a time during free play.

earlier this year I did a whole month of ZERO store bought toys.

We made all of our toys from boxes, twigs, paper, paper towel tubes and etc. We did use some marbles.....

I think it was the most fun and creative I have ever seen these kids.

Going to do it again in March.......

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I also put everything up out of reach about a month ago. If it is not set up in open centers, then they have to ask to have it down one box at a time during free play.

earlier this year I did a whole month of ZERO store bought toys.

We made all of our toys from boxes, twigs, paper, paper towel tubes and etc. We did use some marbles.....

I think it was the most fun and creative I have ever seen these kids.

Going to do it again in March.......

Great idea! We shall try that.

We have been putting away toys and bringing them out in "themes" lately.
Kitchen stuff is always out (in MODERATION, half is packed away and rotated), blocks are always out, Lego Duplos are always out, dollhouse is always out, giant peg board is always out, giant schoolbus (that they sit in) is always out, books are always out, and puzzles are always out (on the puzzle racks). But, everything else we've been rotating. This week was a bunch of cars added to one center (wooden ones) and to the discovery center there are toy animals (the Toobs variety).

Our shelves look BARE but the children are acting out elaborate things now that we rotate things like this and it is wonderful to see! They play together so much more nicely, too, which is what we're after. happyface

[lovemykidstoo]

I'm so with ya on this. I'm going to reorganize my toys too because it seems like every single toy is just dumped out and then stepped on. Then we have fights about picking up. also the train table is going to disappear for awhile too. All they do is run around it.

[LK5kids]

I am such a toy person and I love to have different learning/play centers...ie. block center, book corner, contruction, etc.

But I can really see where cutting back and children not being overwhelmed with too many toys could be wonderful. I always say, "Sometimes less is more." and it might apply to toy choices too!

I'm glad this is working out for you and your kiddos!

[slpender]

This post makes me feel so much better now. About 2 weeks ago I did the same thing. The kids are playing so much better now. I am going to the less is more approach and I will be rotating about every 3 weeks or so.

Over my holiday vaction I am planning on making prop boxes to fit my themes to make this an easier process.

After the holiday I plan on purchasing more quality wooden open ended toys and slow getting rid of the plastic battery operatred one that drive me crazy.

[itlw8]

sorry I can not agree with this . It is not developmentally approriate to have everything out of reach. Plus that promotes children climbing to get things they want to use.

Most of us have far too many choices out and need to rotate our toys . I did find removing 50% of the toy food and dishes made it eaiser to pick up and they did not even miss it. I switch it out and they have new food every so often.

In my opinion it is best to remove it from the room and rotate, not put it up high out of reach and make them ask for it. That puts YOU in charge if their choice not them. Not child directed then is it.

[makap]

sorry I can not agree with this . It is not developmentally approriate to have everything out of reach. Plus that promotes children climbing to get things they want to use.

Most of us have far too many choices out and need to rotate our toys . I did find removing 50% of the toy food and dishes made it eaiser to pick up and they did not even miss it. I switch it out and they have new food every so often.

In my opinion it is best to remove it from the room and rotate, not put it up high out of reach and make them ask for it. That puts YOU in charge if their choice not them. Not child directed then is it.

I agree with this.

Everything I have is in bins and what I choose to rotate is accessible to them at all times but they can only choose one bin at a time. Unless lets say they want to build a road with blocks and play with the cars then they may have both bins, or if they want the dollies highchairs and stuff and clothing as well as the kitchen stuff. But they MUST put away before making another choice. I have more toys than Walmart I am sure :: and I have no problem with 6 kiddies everyday. My floor is always clear of toys except for my large gated off section for the waddlers who are still too young to understand the cleanup process.

[MarinaVanessa]

I agree with this.

Everything I have is in bins and what I choose to rotate is accessible to them at all times but they can only choose one bin at a time. Unless lets say they want to build a road with blocks and play with the cars then they may have both bins, or if they want the dollies highchairs and stuff and clothing as well as the kitchen stuff. But they MUST put away before making another choice. I have more toys than Walmart I am sure :: and I have no problem with 6 kiddies everyday. My floor is always clear of toys except for my large gated off section for the waddlers who are still too young to understand the cleanup process.

This is what I do also. I do have all toys in bins that I rotate and the toys that they can't play with are stowed out of sight (out of sight, out of mind). I keep about 9-10 bins out at a time plus, puzzles, and other stand alone toys (like the wire toy that the large beads run through) and a few stuffed animals. We also always have books out too. Keeping it limited to these few toys in the playroom (but enough for everyone to play with together) has really helped out with the mess and it makes it easier for the kids to sort.

Clean up is a part of our day and we do it a few times day before moving on to the next activity. Even the 1yo's can sort the toys here. If someone doesn't want to help then they can't play with that set of toys for the rest of the day. If they all don't want to clean up then that set of toys get removed for a day.