No matter how often I try to cut down on Christmas the amount of toys never seems to change. I am grateful for every toy which is a gift of love that my child receives every year. The moment after opening all the gifts is an amazing site to behold. It looks like a toy store exploded in my living room. Not to mention the wrapping paper and ribbon all over the place that could be called Christmas carnage. The aftermath is an amazing site. The festivities are brought to full climax and then the clean up begins. Once the wrapping paper and ribbon gets picked up, saved, or thrown away it is time to figure out what to do with all the new toys. Chances are you hardly had room for new toys to begin with so where can you fit new toys? It is time to get out a large plastic tote fill it with toys to save for a rainy day. The rotating toy box is a great way to keep old toys new and new toys from being old hat.
What is a rotating toy box?
A rotating toy box is a large plastic tote full of toys that are old or new to be stored for another day. Mark the tote for three to six months down the road. Then open that box and watch your child’s eyes light up with a box full of “new” toys. While the child is playing with the “new” toys build up the next rotation with toys the child currently does not play with or will not miss.
How to build the rotating toy box:
First, look through all the toys and find any that are intended for an older age. You know the toys your child was expected to grow into. Unless your child had an immediate attachment, quietly remove the toy from view and place in the rotating toy box.
Second, find toys your child will not notice are missing. Chances are there is nothing wrong with the toy but with all the toys she has to chose from it simply gets looked over. Place it in the rotating toy box and watch it get new life once opened in a few months or so.
Third, put away toys she got for Christmas that she seems not to notice. It is a shame for new toys to be neglected especially with all the time, love and money that went into buying them. Once they are put away for a while you can bring them out and be surprised how they will become favorites.
Lastly, continue to rotate toys around and watch how old toys get new life. This will end some boredom blues and save you money since “new” toys are always within reach.