Questions? Call us today! (929)-777-3113

SCHEDULE A TOUR

Do you ever feel like your kiddo just has too many toys? And they don’t actually play with a majority of them?

They could be scattered across the house, maybe half in one room and the rest in the other, or they’re all getting jumbled together during clean up and who knows which toy goes with which anymore.

This is a problem I have been running into recently. As we clean up from the holidays and try to make room for new toys and gifts, it has been feeling a bit overwhelming. It seems like a good problem to have, right? My kid has too many toys! For me, it doesn’t feel like a good problem because my son isn’t actually playing with them. 

Parenting Hack

Here’s a parenting hack I recently learned: Toy rotations!

Rotating your child’s toys is a great way to keep them interested. For a child, having so many options can become overwhelming. And that’s something we can identify with as parents, too.

I started trying to implement toy rotating in my own home, and I ran into a bit of a speed bump right off the bat.

The first step is to clear out a space where you can keep the toys that are not currently in rotation. Obviously, this is where I ran into trouble. I don’t have a large apartment and storage space is definitely limited. So, where would we keep the toys my son isn’t currently using?

Child's face surrounded by toys.

Finding Space

I went through the top shelf of his closet, but even after finally parting with a few things that we don’t use anymore, there still wasn't enough space for this specific project. 

Then I remembered that I had a single set of lockers (one on top of the other) that I had gotten at a thrift store and had been storing in a family friend's garage until I had a good use for it. 

This would be the perfect thing because he can’t reach the top locker. And if I need more room for toys out of the rotation, I could put a lock on the bottom one.

 I am a huge proponent of utilizing your local thrifts, purchasing used items when possible, facebook marketplace and other sources. You never know what you can find! 

Sorting Rotation Sets 

Once the problem of where to store the out-of-rotation toys was solved, it was time to decide which toys will go where. I found it helpful to sort the toys into bins or bags and label each for easy identification. It can be good to try to have each rotation include different types of toys, such as building sets or blocks, sensory and pretend play items. 

How many toys should be in rotation at a time? If your little one is under three years old, try starting with six to 10 toys. You may want to leave out one or two favorites that serve as comfort items for your child. Make sure to place the toys that are in rotation where your child can easily get to them. 

Keeping Kiddos Engaged

As you begin this process, take note of your kiddo’s interactions with their toys. If they seem to be completely avoiding one toy in the rotation, maybe switch it to another. If you see your child dumping everything out and mixing them together, it could be a sign you need to take a few toys out of that rotation to condense the number of options. 

You can switch the rotation every week or couple of weeks. If your little one seems bored of this rotation a few days early, go ahead and switch! You make the rules.

The purpose of rotating is to encourage more focused and independent play. And if we parents have a bit less clutter around the house, that’s just an added bonus! 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works in advocacy for victims of interpersonal violence. Her son is two-and-a-half years old.

Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.org or call us at 929.228.1180.

Happy little African American boy in a pumpkin patch in autumn,

Hi, parents, and happy October! I’m so happy to celebrate my favorite season of the year. It's that time of year for fall fun with little ones. Here are some autumn- and Halloween-themed suggestions to keep your little one entertained.

As always, we are keeping these as simple as can be. Let’s get started! 

Squishy Fun

First is an activity that is great for our really tiny humans. If you plan to carve pumpkins, don’t throw away the guts of the pumpkin.

Instead, toss them in a gallon zip lock bag to create a super simple and squishy sensory activity for those 12-24-month-olds.

This way they are still involved in the pumpkin carving, but in a safe way. And this allows us parents to really focus on our own pumpkins, am I right? 

Pumpkin Washing

Another idea for our little littles is a pumpkin washing station. To keep it really simple, go for smaller pumpkins. You’ll need to grab a container, fill it with warm soapy water, and make sure there you’re set up in an area that is protected from the splashing or is OK to get wet.

Our three- and four-year-olds can really get involved in the activity by washing everyone’s pumpkins before the carving begins! 

With larger pumpkins, skip placing them in water. Instead, just give your little one a couple of washcloths and some warm soapy water. This way they can wipe down all the pumpkins, and get them nice and clean for carving. But you don’t have to find a giant tote to fill with water either. 

Sensory Bin

Another easy peasy sensory activity for our littles ones is a fall-themed sensory bin.

You could use multicolored dry pasta, pinecones, smooth acorns, or even some leaves. There is basically no mess when it comes to this activity since everything is pretty large and we parents love to hear that.

Give this one a try and let me know how it goes and how long your kiddo stayed engaged in the activity. 

Hunting for Decorations

This next one, I just did with my kiddo over the past weekend, and we had such a good time. I realized, I didn’t have any Autumn or Halloween decorations for our house! As such a huge fan of this time of year, that did not sit right with me. Lack of storage space keeps me from holding onto a lot of decorations, other than those we have for Christamas. 

So, I asked my kiddo if he wanted to go to the thrift store to pick out some decorations. Surprise, surprise, his response was “NOW?” It just so happened we had a few free hours before I had to go to work. So, I said “Sure!” and we were off. 

We headed over to our local Goodwill. I really tried to let him pick out the things he thought would be cute for our little home. He found some pumpkin string lights (LOVE), tealight candle holders (one black cat, a pumpkin, and a little ghost), a wooden pumpkin door hanger, and the cutest little stuffed pumpkin with a black top hat and black and white striped arms and legs. They are absolutely perfect.

Extra tip: Bring something to donate to the thrift store. Most thrift stores offer a coupon for making a donation. So not only was everything pretty cheap in the first place, we also got 20% off! We spent a total of only $10. And we had a great time doing it. 

But, the fun didn’t stop there. We still get to go home and decorate with our super fun finds. 

There you have it, friends! Easy peasy autumn activities to incorporate when you’ve got the time.

I hope they are just as much fun for you as they were for me. Let me know how it goes!

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is a 3½-year-old preschooler.



Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.orgor call us at 929.228.1180.