Structuring playtime??

So after months of letting Calan play however he wanted in our family and after months of me cleaning up after the tornado, we are changing it up. This week during our parenting class, a couple told us how they have organized and taken all of their son's toys and put them out of easy access. Is it crazy that I had never thought of doing that? In a culture where our children have so much and almost too much sometimes, it is against the norm to control our children's playtime. But should playtime always be a free for all?

So here is the thought behind why we have hidden Calan's toys:

• He was going from toy to toy to toy to toy without really focusing on what he was doing in the first place.
• It helps control the mess and gets him involved in cleaning up his toys instead of him just playing with a new toy while I am cleaning up his last toy.
• It keeps his toys new and exciting.

His toys are still there for him to play with and he can still play with what he wants. We aren't keeping him from being a playful child and we aren't stopping him enjoying his toys. We are, however, controlling what he plays with and when.

Wednesday during his nap, I took his toys that were smaller and put them in a trunk and up on our book shelves. There are 3 toys on the ground that were just to big to put somewhere else. I thought when he woke up that he would be looking for his toys or complaining about them being gone, but it has been a non-issue. He hasn't cared at all. He has played with the toys that are available to him very happily. Plus, he isn't tripping over toys that hadn't been put away yet.

I am not sure if this will always be the case and I am not sure it is the answer, but we are trying it out and so far, so good.

Do your toy rooms look like a tornado hit? Would you ever consider restricting access?

Goodbye freedom; hello structure.