Has it been years since you were able to close the lid on your child’s toy box? Do your toys just spill over the edges and create a playroom floor full of landmines? Then it may be time to pull the plug, empty the toy box a bit, and rotate your toys. Having access to too many toys at once creates a world of confusion and frustration for your little one. Limiting the number of toys your child plays with at any one time will teach him valuable limits, help him learn to make decisions, keep him focused, and ultimately reduce tantrums.

However, if you simply cannot get rid of your child’s excess toys, it is imperative that you rotate them frequently. Rotating toys is as simple as “pack and stack.” Pack half of your child’s toys in a few boxes and stack them out of your little one’s sight, either in the garage or in your closet. Every season, change things up by changing some of the toys! Not only is this cost effective, it makes the child feel like they just got a ton of new toys!

Many parents feel that their child will get bored with too few toys. Actually, it is the exact opposite. If there are dozens of toys scattered around your house, this sends a confusing message to your little one. “What am I playing with?” There will be too much variety, toys will be thrown around the room, and the child will be overwhelmed by playing with each toy for only a short period of time.

A child needs to develop a sense of choice, limits, and limits. This skill is taught first with his toys! Placing two or three toys in front of your child gives him the freedom to examine each toy completely and make the decision for himself which one he prefers. By giving him just this small number of toys to choose from, he begins to develop the concept of limits and boundaries. He can still play with his toys, just these three right now.

And yes, it is very important to teach your young child how to make his own decisions. It is fully capable, but only by limiting the options. Imagine taking your hungry four-year-old to a restaurant. You never ask him what he wants because the overwhelming menu will only confuse him! However, if you have taught him to make decisions with his toys, you can give him a simple option, a hamburger or a hot dog. You can think about each meal and decide which one you would like to eat. The same idea applies to playing with their toys.

Removing some of your child’s toys from his toy box so that he can close the lid will eventually make him feel better, and of course make him feel better. After all, this is why you chose a unique and creative toy box for your child in the first place – to store his toys!

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