Rotating toys- a trick of the trade.

[montessorimom77]

 Why do my kids seem bored eventhough they have a ton of toys?  As a long time preschool teacher and Montessorian I have the answer.  Well, one of them anyway. While what I have to offer you is not going to solve all of your parenting problems, I believe you will find the information helpful. I have worked in both traditional and Montessori schools and both educational methods use this trick of the trade to provide sustained interest in the classroom. In traditional preschool classrooms you may see, new items brought into the sensory table, or block area that pertain to the theme. The teacher may make special folder games or theme related flannel board peices. In a Montessori classroon science materials are usually rotated monthly as well as Geography or History. The practical life area is constantly changing of materials and contents for pouring and transfering materials. They may have new and exciting food preparation works out monthly or weekly. Why do teachers do this? Why does it work? The rotating of materials works because it stirs up interest in an activity or toy that otherwise sits there stagnant. Ever wonder why your child plays with the same toy(s) over and over after his/her birthday and then all of the sudden they get "bored with it and move on to something else. Perhaps you find yourself buying new toys to stave away the boredoms. Well, by rotating your child's toys along with a well organized environment you can save money while keeping your child's interest level high. My advice is to clear out all of the toys, set up your environment, and put away on third to one half of the toys depending on how many toys you have and how many children you have. When setting up your environment try to choose toys that the child(ren) haven't played with in a while and ones that they play with often. After one- two weeks take a look at the toys and decide wich ones they have lost interest in and put those away. You should always rotate one third to one half, not all of them; you probably will not have happy kids if you do. Of course, you can get your children's help by asking them what they would like to put away and what they would like "new" to set out. However you may have the type of kids who like surprises; in that case, you could set out the new toys at nap time and when they wake up it will be like their birthday with all types of "new"toys to play with. It will be like getting new toys every week and you haven't spent a dime!