Rainbow Rule Method Toy Rotation | 6 Powerful Organizing Tips for Families
Having kids often means having a lot of stuff, particularly toys. But that doesn’t mean we have to live in chaos or clutter. Finding a system to organize toys and keep the house tidy that works for your family is so valuable. So here are six powerful organizing tips for families with kids using inspiration from Rainbow Rule Method toy rotation.
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This is a pretty big post, so here’s a little preview of what’s coming.
Why the Rainbow Rule Method Toy Rotation?
This post is not my usual. Typically I start by writing about something I actually know about. 🙂 I’ll share something that’s worked really well for our family (like our bedtime routine) or a tip that simplifies life (such as about meal planning or starting routines). I’ll often share a method that I’ve seen personally work for loved ones (like this idea for teaching patience).
But today’s topic is different. Instead, I started with something I knew absolutely nothing about, something that piqued my curiosity: the rainbow rule method toy rotation.
A Chance Meeting
I started seeing the term “rainbow rule method toy rotation” pop up. In an ad or a random video as I’m scrolling. Google kept suggesting I search for it. Isn’t it fascinating what google autofills for suggestions? Sometimes they make me laugh out loud, like this one that felt so random compared to what I was actually trying to prevent at the time of my search that I took a picture…
How did razor bumps get on this list?
Anyway, I kept seeing the rainbow rule method toy rotation and had no idea what it was. So, of course I Googled it. I was surprised how little I could find. I couldn’t find the ads I remembered seeing or any definitive answer. So, I thought, why not start the conversation? After digging, reading an entire book, and applying some of my own experience, here’s what I think the rainbow rule method toy rotation could be and how it might help families with young kids keep things tidy.
Now, I’m being totally honest: I’m really not sure! 🙂 So if you know more than me on this baffling combination, please do share in the comments. And we all thank you!
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Good home systems save time and decrease stress. They allow us to live with intention and have time and energy for what we care about most, while also taking care of everything that needs to get done. For example, finding a system that works for you to organize and keep things tidy is so valuable. A great first step is to download my Simple Systems Starter Guide. It’ll help you get started on better home systems that work, plus it’s FREE!
The Rainbow Method
My research led me to the Rainbow Method from Clea and Joanna. These two are the stars of the Netflix show “Get Organized with the Home Edit.” We don’t have Netflix, so this popular show was unknown to me. But as I read articles and skimmed their Instagram feed, I was immediately sucked into all the things they’ve organized, most often in rainbow order.
It really is beautiful!
And surprising. It’s the kind of thing my really artistic daughter does naturally. For me organization is so much about function and saving time. I really want us to remember that our homes don’t have to look “Instagram worthy” or “Pinterest perfect” in order to feel really good to us, our families, and visitors.
We don’t have to spend a lot of money on the perfect containers or create beautiful labels to have a tidy home.
But as I saw all of these spaces organized using the rainbow method, I thought that might be a simple technique I could incorporate that improves the aesthetic and also helps people keep things organized because ROYGBIV and color matching tends to be intrinsic.
Basic Steps in the Rainbow Method
There are basically two steps in the rainbow method.
- Organize everything into categories.
- Arrange the categories (and/or items within categories) into rainbow order, which is red, orange, yellow, glue, blue, purple, violet.
For example, take out the kids toys and organize them by categories such as craft supplies, books, and toys for pretend. Then put the books in rainbow order, the crafts in separate containers in rainbow order, and the toys for pretend in different baskets in rainbow order.
The Home Edit Life Book
I wanted to learn more about the rainbow method and see what they said about toy rotation, so I checked out their book, The Home Edit Life: The No-Guilt Guide to Owning What You Want and Organizing Everything by Clea Shearer and Joanna Templin.
Click image for purchasing information.
If you might want to read the book too, I wrote a full book review for The Home Edit Life to help you decide. In general, I think you’d appreciate The Home Edit Life book if you enjoy organizing or want to get organized and also appreciate a little personality with your tips. There are tons of beautiful pictures, so it’s a pretty quick read.
There’s one chapter about kids’ stuff but not a lot of specific tips in the book about toys or kids’ stuff, except that you can keep it. 🙂 You don’t have to be a minimalist to use the rainbow method they say.
One Warning about the Rainbow Method of Organizing
One word of caution about the rainbow method that I noticed is to be aware of the time spent organizing and maintaining the organization. For me and so many others I’ve worked with, investing time to set-up organization and home management systems is an incredibly good use of time. It ends up saving a ton of time down the road.
But sometimes the Rainbow Method of organizing can lead to a worry about details that might not matter much. For example, in The Home Edit Life they said, “It took us eight-plus hours to organize Constance Zimmer’s pantry because we were having such a hard time with its dimensions.” If you try to follow all the style techniques, it might take longer than necessary.
Along the same lines, do kids really need to spend time organizing their Legos by color after they play?
Because let’s be honest, although it looks pretty, it’s going to be faster to simply throw all the Legos into one bucket.
So just be sure that you enjoy the time spent organizing using the rainbow method or that it feels like a good investment of time for you.
Toy Rotation
The next part of the rainbow rule method toy rotation is the toy rotation. Toy rotation simply means we don’t have all the toys accessible at all times. Instead, we rotate which toys are out and available.
There are many benefits to a toy rotation and having fewer toys available at a time, but here are three big ones.
Benefit #1 of a Toy Rotation: Simplicity
Simplicity is a huge benefit for our kids. Conversely, overstimulation and too many choices is actually not really healthy.
If you want to dig deeper into this, a really great book is Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne.
In general, Kim John Payne teaches how good it is for our kids when we simplify. He talks about simplifying not just toys, but also schedules, information, and more.
One study conducted with ADD kids showed that when the environment was simplified (including the number and types of toys, diet, screen media, schedules, etc.), 68% went from clinically dysfunctional to clinically functional in four months and were medication free.
Every stage in a family’s evolution can benefit from a little more space and grace, a little less speed and clutter.
Kim John Payne, M.ED.
When we simplify or cut-down on the toys in our kids’ environment, we give them more space for thinking, relaxing, and creativity. They are more likely to play deeply with the toys they do have, which is healthy for brain and emotional development.
Benefit #2 of a Toy Rotation: Variety
One option to get the same simplicity without a toy rotation is to just get rid of stuff, to own fewer toys, even become minimalists. For many families, this is a great solution. Other families want to own more. Just determine what’s best for your family.
A toy rotation allows you to have the benefits of simplicity and still introduce variety to your kids. When you pull out the new rotation of toys (typically a substitution of some items, not the whole play space at once), it’s feels fresh to kids. There’s a new interest, new things to explore or play with.
Benefit #3 of a Toy Rotation: Less Mess
With fewer toys to get out, the mess is just smaller. Even if you have a dumper (you know the kid who likes to dump all the bins at once), the mess is contained. Additionally, when toys aren’t so overwhelming, when there aren’t favorites hiding at the bottom of a bucket of other toys, even the dumpers are less likely to dump.
Along the lines of keeping a space tidy, rotation is also a great solution if you’re dealing with a small space. For example, when my husband and I shared one small closet (one bar for hanging, one shelf above, and floor space) I rotated my winter and summer clothes. If you have a small living room and don’t want it overrun by kids’ stuff but still want a kid-friendly space, you can rotate which toys are in the basket in the living room.
Benefit #4 of a Toy Rotation: More Time
With less mess comes less time cleaning up. This is a big one for me because I love having a tidy home, but I don’t love spending all day keeping it tidy. I’d much rather be playing with the kids or doing other things, as would the kids. A toy rotation can give us more time for the things that matter most to us.
What’s Next for Me and Rainbow Rule Method Toy Rotation
It’s been a while since we did a major clean-up of our toys. And in the meantime, one of the kiddos actually pulled out the tubs that were supposed to be out of rotation, dumped everything, and had a grand time doing it, of course.
So, our family is due for a little sorting, decluttering, and organizing in our kid zone basement. When we do that, I’m going to use these six tips combining the rainbow rule method toy rotation with my tried and true systems for keeping a tidy house with kids.
6 Tips for Using Rainbow Rule Method Toy Rotation
These tips are in the order I’d use them. Which of these tips have you tried before? What else would you add? Share in the comments!
1. Simplify First
As you go through the toys, the first question is always, “Do we want to keep this?” Keep a trash bag and donation box close by. If it’s broken get rid of it. With few exceptions, it’s probably not worth the time and effort to fix.
Feel free to be ruthless with plastic toys from fast food meals, party goodie bags, and other random accumulations. The same goes for toys that are annoying, like if it makes too many sounds or doesn’t work well.
If the kids have grown out of the toy or hardly ever use it, consider donating to a family or cause that will benefit.
2. Categorize the Toys
Organize everything into categories, such as pretend food, dress-up, games, books, puzzles, etc. Once you see the toys in their categories, there’s another chance to simplify. Maybe you really don’t need so many toy cars. Donate until you are happy with everything you own.
3. Choose Toys to Rotate from the Categories
Within categories, select the toys you want to have available. Label and store the rest or put them on a higher shelf. For example, we have four building sets: blocks, K’nex, magnet builders, and Crystal Climbers. We rotate these, so we only have one or two sets reachable for the little kids at a time.
Another example is books. I love books! And I love having a large family collection. But the younger kids don’t need access to all the books all the time. Most of the books are on shelves in the older kids’ room. Then we have about five books out at a time on the shelf in my youngest child’s bedroom for him to choose from. These means his choices aren’t overwhelming, and it’s easy for him to keep his room clean on his own.
I don’t stress about how often to rotate toys. It’s basically when I think of it, have a minute, or one of the kids mentions something that’s not in rotation.
If you want a more detailed timeline for toy rotation, Montessori guidelines and communities can be a really helpful support, particularly if you only have child or developmental age you’re focusing on.
4. Arrange in Rainbow Order
Find containers that fit your different toy categories. To whatever degree you desire, arrange the toys within the category or by category in rainbow order. I’m going to experiment with this, and see what we can come up with for our toys! I’ve included a few more pictures for inspiration lower in this post.
This is the part that really intrigues me. Talking about the rainbow method, Clea said, “In a playroom, it’s extremely helpful. It’s very intuitive for kids, so for children and their rooms specifically, it is a really smart way for them to learn where things go and where to find what they’re looking for.”
I’m excited to experiment with the rainbow method with my kids and see how it goes!
5. Teach Kids to Keep Organized
With fewer toys in rotation, this task is easier, but we still need to teach our kids how to keep their toys organized. Part of the teaching process can be them helping you get it organized to begin with. Let them see or have a say in how toys are categorized. Make the system simple enough for them to understand.
Teach what it means to clean-up. Don’t just expect kids to know how to do it.
Follow-through consistently with whatever responsibility you’ve given the kids. Practice, practice, practice.
Related: 7 Simple Ways to Get Your 4-Year-Old to Clean-Up
6. Keep Perspective
All the beautiful organization in the world isn’t worth causing stress or tension in family relationships. There might be some pushback or friction anytime a new system is started. That’s normal. Many of us don’t love change. In the long run though, our homes and stuff should HELP our relationships, not hurt them.
Make sure your personal WHY for keeping a tidy home is clear, and communicate the reasons to your family. Help them see the vision of maintaining a space that is clean. For example, isn’t it great when you can find your toys?
Value the opportunity to grow patience if your rainbow rule method toy rotation doesn’t work out as planned the first time. Give yourself and your family members grace as you find the systems and routines that work best for your family.
Rainbow Rule Method Toy Rotation Inspiration for Kids’ Stuff
I really enjoyed seeing all the different ways to use the rainbow method to organize things from hair accessories to tools! Here are a few more pictures for inspiration when it comes to organizing toys and kids’ stuff, both from The Home Edit and others.
So here’s the first. Check the caption for why a SYSTEM is so important. 🙂
I guarantee some of these families aren’t trying to keep organized like this with really young children, like when I see 20 rainbow order Sharpies in the same craft container as the rainbow order crayons or when I see a shelf that has the craft supplies lower than the board books. 🙂
Make sure you figure out what’s going to WORK WELL for your family and prevents messes so you can clean less and still have a clean home, and THEN make it look pretty if you want to.
This is a nice big space that doesn’t feel overcluttered.
Hair stuff anyone?
A simple kid shelf…
And that’s all for now! I hope this is motivating for you to find the system that works best for you and your family. A great first step in creating better home systems is my Simple Systems Starter Guide. It’ll get you on your way to creating home systems that work, plus you’ll receive other tips, free downloads, and product choices to help you simplify your parenting life. Come join the thousands of families in the Lovin’ Life with Littles community!
Alright, what do you think about my interpretation of the rainbow rule method toy rotation? Let me know in the comments!
Want more about getting and staying organized with kids?
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