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Playrooms: Gearing Up For Summertime
I am an architectural design writer who often focuses on how environment can affect behavior. Before consulting privately, I received my MA in writing and ran a design boutique in Los Angeles.
I am an architectural design writer who often focuses on how environment... More »
Between talking with parents who have summer on the brain, and my own recent ideabook exploring how to enrich children during summer months, I've had playrooms in mind. Playrooms are no-brainers. It's a room with toys for play. There. You can't go wrong. But getting it way RIGHT is another story. I'm going to revamp our play space with these five principles in mind, and I hope they help you too.
CREATE OPEN SHELVING AND BINS. While this organizational system allows for easy access, which also means quick pick-up, open low shelving and bins to segment toys developmentally helps children gain independence and confidence. They can self-direct their play, and even dump two bins out for new scenarios, which constantly recreates their play--dumping the guy bin out with the train bin, for instance.
CARVE OUT A DISTINCT SPACE. Whether the playroom is an entire decked-out attic or one row along the family library bookshelf, carve out a distinct space for the play area where children can understand their boundaries. This creates psychological security for kids, and while it's wonderful to integrate their play into everyday rooms such as the family room, kids needs their own space.
CREATE STATIONS. Within that space, go the extra length by creating different stations, such as the music station, the art station, the dress-up station. These don't have to be elaborate to be successful--the music bin can be a CD player with shakers in a tupperware. Creating stations can also help parents oversee that kid are getting all areas of fun enrichment over summer months.
HAVE A PLACE TO SIT. While kids settle better when there's a reading corner, pile of pillows, smaller-sized couch, cushy rug--whatever--don't forget about yourself. Curl up in that corner rocker with iced tea, your book, and a moment of stillness while the little ones play together at your feet. If you need to work while the kids play, add a second work surface beyond your home office for slipping in bits of work while they're occupied.
HAVE A PLACE FOR THE RANDOM. Collections are inevitable. Head off any clutter by knowing what to do with the random stuff that comes through the house. Designate a space for displaying or accumulating art. Create "whatever bins" for each child, for putting their random assemblage of bottle caps, feathers, drawings, and other treasures. Create a clutter bin for storing short-term flotsam that appears around the house and playroom.
Good luck. Happy summer and happy playing.
CREATE OPEN SHELVING AND BINS. While this organizational system allows for easy access, which also means quick pick-up, open low shelving and bins to segment toys developmentally helps children gain independence and confidence. They can self-direct their play, and even dump two bins out for new scenarios, which constantly recreates their play--dumping the guy bin out with the train bin, for instance.
CARVE OUT A DISTINCT SPACE. Whether the playroom is an entire decked-out attic or one row along the family library bookshelf, carve out a distinct space for the play area where children can understand their boundaries. This creates psychological security for kids, and while it's wonderful to integrate their play into everyday rooms such as the family room, kids needs their own space.
CREATE STATIONS. Within that space, go the extra length by creating different stations, such as the music station, the art station, the dress-up station. These don't have to be elaborate to be successful--the music bin can be a CD player with shakers in a tupperware. Creating stations can also help parents oversee that kid are getting all areas of fun enrichment over summer months.
HAVE A PLACE TO SIT. While kids settle better when there's a reading corner, pile of pillows, smaller-sized couch, cushy rug--whatever--don't forget about yourself. Curl up in that corner rocker with iced tea, your book, and a moment of stillness while the little ones play together at your feet. If you need to work while the kids play, add a second work surface beyond your home office for slipping in bits of work while they're occupied.
HAVE A PLACE FOR THE RANDOM. Collections are inevitable. Head off any clutter by knowing what to do with the random stuff that comes through the house. Designate a space for displaying or accumulating art. Create "whatever bins" for each child, for putting their random assemblage of bottle caps, feathers, drawings, and other treasures. Create a clutter bin for storing short-term flotsam that appears around the house and playroom.
Good luck. Happy summer and happy playing.
by Stylish Spaces
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Make playthings easily accessible, such as these hanging costumes and easily-distinguishable areas for different types of play.
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| A fun example of open shelving and organized materials. Low and accessible. Love the color combo. |
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| Here's a successful example of a station--perfect for sitting and freely doing leisurely art projects. |
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| This is obviously a multi-purpose family room, yet distinct spaces for the younger bunch have been created--the low mirror and the train table create concentrated areas. |
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by Aurelio Vazquez
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| Now this is going all out. Kids love nooks and crannies, and this space creates continuity throughout its different areas by keeping to a distinct color theme. |
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| This space takes a bedroom and adds whimsy to create an all-inclusive play space. |
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| The space doesn't have to be over-the-top to be completely charming and effective. This simple art helps designate and transform this child's corner. |
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The patterns in the textiles here add to the playfulness of this space while also keeping it classy and old-school.
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Shelves like this that are accessible and visible but not in the flow of high traffic make a perfect space for playthings when an entire room can't be created.
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Such panache. This color scheme is both bold and classic, and no detail goes un-noticed (see the shades? see how the colors vary and tie in together throughout the room?) Such a space could be a perfect blend of playroom-meets-grown up space. A room like this can be carved out of a simple bedroom or spare room or even corner of a much larger room.
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