Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Keeping toys available in toddler room

    Posted 02-12-2019 03:27 PM
    I have been finding that many toddler teachers are turning shelves to face the walls or taking toys off of shelves to prevent toddlers from making a mess, climbing, or whatever the case may be. Has anyone had experience with correcting this? My center has <g class="gr_ gr_210 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="210" data-gr-id="210">play-based</g> curriculum which I feel may be hard to explain to potential families when there are no toys readily available in the classroom. I would like to make the teachers feel heard though as I do know they are struggling with the mess/climbing.

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    Hannah Gemar
    Mesa AZ
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  • 2.  RE: Keeping toys available in toddler room

    Posted 02-12-2019 09:14 PM
    I know that some teachers in my classroom have been doing the same thing, And I let them know that you are not to do that because the students have to have something to play with and keep them Active.  I also told them that you are to teach them how to clean up And put things away.

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    Keisha Harris
    Teacher special ed
    Grand Canyon University
    Camden NJ
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  • 3.  RE: Keeping toys available in toddler room

    Posted 02-13-2019 08:57 AM
    I'm wondering if the amount of toys available to the children is what causes the "mess."  Perhaps there is a way to give children access to the toys but reduce the amount they have access to.  This can make for some beautiful displays for the children and a nice rotation of toys, displaying different toys each week, month, etc.  Also, if the children are craving climbing activities, I'm wondering what types of indoor climbing equipment they could gain access to so they have an appropriate space for climbing.

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    Sherrie Rose Mayle
    Director/Teacher
    Campbell Parents' Participation Preschool
    Campbell, CA
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  • 4.  RE: Keeping toys available in toddler room

    Posted 02-13-2019 11:05 AM
    ​Hello,
    Yes- I have encountered this before when visiting toddler or two year old classrooms. I have encouraged teachers to leave the shelves open/toys assessible but perhaps limit the number of toys on the shelves to what the children usually enjoy playing with as well as guiding them to establish clean up routines so there is less mess. As the children gain skills in the cleanup routine, they can add additional toys and continue to work on cleanup. In terms of climbing, I have recommended that they include a soft indoor climbing area for the children. This will depend on the space available in the room as well as ability to purchase the soft climbing structures. The teachers/directors that I have worked with on this have taken on the challenge and it is working well- teachers and children are enjoying the classroom !

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    Gabriella Gscheidle
    Provider Services Specialist
    Early Learning Colition of Orange County Florida
    Orlando FL
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  • 5.  RE: Keeping toys available in toddler room

    Posted 02-13-2019 05:07 PM
    I've been in Early Childhood for 30 years, and toddlers are my passion!

    You are correct that the toys should be available on open shelves for the toddlers to access.

    Also,  as per Montessouri child development theory, toddlers have a developmental "window" for order.  Maintaining order in both the classroom layout and in daily routines benefit children at this stage.

    You will have the best results when there is a balance of both.

    I may repeat, in agreement, with some of the comments already posted... and add a few suggestions:

    In your classroom routines, plan for both self-directed play and guided play.  Self-directed play usually occurs while teachers are involved in daily routines, such as diapering time.  This is when most of the mess occurs.  :)  There should also be plenty of time each day when teachers are involved with toddler activities.  This time becomes more manageable if the teacher assists the children in putting activity props, (toys) away as they finish and  move on with the next activity.  Teachers should encourage the toddlers to assist with this.

    Classroom arrangement and set-up can have a huge impact on how well the mess is managed.  I suggest there be storage space that is in-accessible to the toddlers, but within easy reach of the teachers.  I have 72" bookshelves (secured to the wall), and use the top levels to store the "messy" items that only come out during guided play: crayons/paper, puzzles, bins of beads, pegs, etc. For the same purpose you can also use upper cupboards, mount shelves, or make use of lower cupboards with locks.  

    Choose carefully the items that will be accessible on open shelves at toddler level.  Baby dolls, toy trucks, set of large soft blocks, pop-up toys, bin with shoes/hats etc.  Customize according to the interests of the children and eliminate what they do not use.  Keep the inventory relatively low, but rotate regularly from a storage closet to keep the toys "fresh".  The selection can grow as the toddlers mature and become more proficient at picking up.  I customize according to season and holiday themes, as well as following the interests of the children in the group.

    When transitioning from a period of self-directed play, encourage the children to help put things away.  This is an important life habit, and it teaches order and classification, (ie. hats go in one bin, toys cars in another, etc.)  I will also do quick little "pick-ups" when toddlers have discarded toys and moved on to something new. If they are engaged in something new, I want to encourage periods of focus and not interrupt.  If the children are "loose" and not really engaged in anything, picking up is a great way to get everyone doing something useful and then transition to an engaging activity to follow.  "Let's pick up so we have room to dance", for example.  

    I always plan for guided play activities during the last hour of the day when parents are picking up.  We have one activity out at a time that is put away as we move on to the next.  That way the room appears orderly for parents, and there isn't much pick up left to do after everyone has gone home.  

    Children who are raised in an environment that makes time for regular periods of guided play involving the teacher are more focused.  When the teacher guides children in appropriate play activities such as stringing beads, building towers, or rolling balls down a ramp,  the  children then know "how" to play appropriately. They are less inclined then to run around, throw/dump toys, climb book cases, etc. when the teacher is not directly involved for short periods of time.  They also need periods of time and space where they can appropriately practice gross motor movement.    It is ideal if you have room in your classroom for a climbing structure. I do not have room, but I do at times bring in a slide, balance beam, or tunnel during guided play time.  If not, be sure you make use of time available outside.   

    Hope you find some of these suggestions helpful!


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    Elizabeth Werner
    Blessed Beginnings
    Cody WY
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  • 6.  RE: Keeping toys available in toddler room

    Posted 02-14-2019 10:34 AM
    I too have encountered this in the past. 
    I think having a conversation with the staff is a great start. As you mentioned you want them to feel heard, but I would also encourage them to be a part of the solution. "I understand the mess and climbing is challenging, and I want to support you. With that, what ideas do you have that may work, because turning the shelves around is not an option in our program."
    From there, you can guide the conversation using some of the ideas in this thread. I strongly agree that minimizing the amount of materials (especially ones with many parts) and keeping up a rotation system to keep children engaged. Additionally, I always encourage teachers to spend time "just playing" with the children. This is an opportunity for them to be in close range with the children who may climb or dump toys, and model acceptable actions to the children. Children take their lead from classroom teachers! 
    As for climbing, something to consider is to keep a few large boxes in the classroom throughout the week. Children can climb in and out of them, and move them around the classroom. It honors the children's desire to explore with their whole body in the classroom in an acceptable way. 
    Best of luck to you and the educators!

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    Jacquelyn Chasteen
    Training and Development Consultant
    Albuquerque, NM
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  • 7.  RE: Keeping toys available in toddler room

    Posted 02-14-2019 12:26 PM
    In my toddler classroom (NAEYC center) where I taught previously, we would use sheets to cover the shelves ONLY when it was large group time. That was an environmental limit we imposed in the classroom so the children would know that we were transitioning from centers to large group. The toddlers often enjoyed helping to spread the sheets on the shelves too (part of the clean-up routine). Once large group was over, the sheets came off. We also used the sheets as we would transition to nap time, again a physical limit to show that the toys were not an option at that time. 

    However, during center time (free play time) every material on the shelves was an option to use. And pretty regularly we would think of ways to help children extend their play by letting them bring a material from another center / area if they genuinely needed that material to enhance their play. We never put boundaries on where materials can be used (except for the obvious, like no paint on the library books, etc.). If I saw children taking a material to another center, I would ask "What is your play plan?" just to make sure they weren't just hoarding materials. But then I would reiterate that after using it, it would be THEIR job to put that material back. And of course I may of given them reminders if I saw the put the material down.

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    Amy Mintz
    Associate Professor of Child Development
    Del Mar College
    Corp Christi TX
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  • 8.  RE: Keeping toys available in toddler room

    Posted 02-25-2019 02:54 PM
    Do your classrooms have something climbable for the children? We have a small climbing structure - 2 steps up to the top and a small slide. It helps a lot to be able to redirect by saying "I see you want to climb. What do we climb on?" It's usually enough of a reminder for the children to stop climbing on the shelves and move to the climbing structure.

    If it's an issue of misusing the toys in an unsafe manner - i.e. throwing hard wooden blocks, putting playdough in their mouths, etc., I find that it helps to remind them how we use the toys or redirect to what we CAN safely throw or chew on. "You're throwing hard blocks and you may hurt a friend. Why don't we throw our soft balls instead?" "I see you're chewing on playdough. Do you want a teether to chew on instead? Playdough isn't to put in our mouths."

    I'll admit, I struggled with this a lot at first. I worked in a center where we were allowed to put away most of our toys and only have the children play with certain items. It made sense at the time but with the knowledge and training I have now, I don't know why it was allowed to happen. Forcing myself to keep all the toys available and out has made me more laid back when it comes to messes. It also teaches the children (I have 1 and 2 year olds) how to "correctly" use toys and to clean up after themselves. Sure, we have our moments of dumping toys and cleaning out shelves, but we also have a lot more moments of cleaning up or older children showing the smaller ones what to do with materials.

    If it's really dire, and I mean REALLY dire, I do remind children that if we can't be safe with materials, the materials will have to go away for "x" amount of time - usually 10 to 15 minutes for a "first offense." Then I put the materials somewhere the children can still see them, but can't reach. If they ask for them back during the time frame, I remind them "We weren't being safe with that toy. We need to take a little break and we'll try again in a few minutes." Often this solves the problem for me! I hope some of these suggestions help.

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    Olivia Schaffer
    Teacher
    Bright Horizons
    Atglen PA
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