Creating an engaging play space for kids shouldn’t feel like a mammoth task that takes over your home. Instead, it should be a special spot that will keep your children entertained while encouraging and facilitating their creativity and imagination.
From selecting the best play mat for safe and comfortable floor play to incorporating the wishes and ideas of your little ones, designing and building a fun and inclusive play area won’t break the bank.
Ask for Input
The best play area is one that you know kids will love and enjoy. And the best way to ensure you are on the right track is by asking children for their input. Whether you are making an area for your own kids at home or building one at a school or other public places, learning more about their ideas and dreams can help guide your theme and shopping list.
For play areas at home, let your kids pick some colors or decorations that will be used in the play space. This will make them feel more included in the entire process and give them ownership over the space. Be sure to balance their wants with practicality and safety to make it the perfect area.
Safety First
Diving into a DIY project is an exciting adventure to embark on, but building a play area for your kids should always have safety as its top priority. Allowing your child to explore without risks will give them complete freedom while giving you peace of mind to leave them alone.
When selecting the materials you want to use, you should always choose options that are non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals and other ingredients. For craft supplies like paint and glue, look for labels that carry child-safe or low-VOC messages. For furniture, stay clear of sharp corners or pieces that can’t be modified to remove them.
Safe, soft plastics or solid wood will always be good choices. And any fabric you select for curtains, cushions, and rugs should be flame-resistant.
Including Children’s Literature
Encouraging children to read from a young age in a way that is both effective and enjoyable can be achieved by providing a variety of different texts, including picture books, magazines, catalogs, maps, menus, and storybooks.
Children’s interests will vary from day to day, and having a wide range of different materials available to look at and enjoy will offer them alternative choices if they would prefer to look at pictures instead of reading a storybook, for example.
Space & Storage for Creativity
Creative materials give children the opportunity to express their ideas, feelings, and knowledge about the world around them. Having the necessary space and supplies available for them to use gives them unlimited freedom to do so.
Furthermore, having a practical and clever storage system for pencils, paint, glue, scissors, and other crafting materials will make using and cleaning up more manageable and efficient, something both parents and children will appreciate.
Natural Elements
The beautiful colors and textures of natural materials, like stones, seedpods, pinecones, wool, and tree blocks, make for a refreshing change from the bright colors, flashing lights, and loud noises of modern toys.
Without clear direction for how the items should be used or played with, it forces children to get creative with their playtime. Furthermore, it helps them build a love for the outdoors. As they spend more time outside, you can continue to grow your selection of safe, natural materials.
Play Zones
Children need time and space to choose whether they want to play alone or with others. Regardless of how big or small your play area is, you need to make accommodations for group play and individual activities.
There are two easy ways to achieve this. Firstly, you can set up activities using tables, chairs, or floor rugs to indicate whether it will be a group activity or solo playtime. This will allow kids to decide for themselves whether they want to be involved in the activity or not.
Alternatively, should space allow, you can divide your area into a smaller, independent zone and a larger group area, which lets children easily switch between the two as they desire.
‘Open-Ended’ Toys
Before purchasing new toys for your play area, consider the versatility of the toys and how they can be used in different ways. Toys that offer extended flexibility during playtime will be worth investing in, as the infinite number of new play scenarios they offer will test your child's creativity.
Additionally, it will have a far longer lifespan than regular toys, as the way it is utilized and played with will change and develop as your child gets older.
Clever Maintenance System
Most of us think more clearly when working in an organized and uncluttered environment. This is relevant to many children, too, and should be considered when planning a play area. Incorporating an easy and creative storage system that allows children to organize their own toys and materials will help them feel more independent when playing and make it easier to keep the area clean and organized when not used.
