Every parent knows that a child's playroom is the most important room in the house and its contents with will depend on the child's age and stage of child development. Before we even think of what those contents will be, we need to take time to childproof that playroom, don't we?
Children are the most curious of all human beings, so when you look at your child's playroom, look through the eyes of your curious child before you allow your child to play.
How to childproof a playroom:
- Cover all electrical outlets immediately. Remember that children tend to stick their fingers into everything that has an opening. In fact, it's wise to cover the electrical outlets in every room in the house. Make sure the TV is positioned high enough that your child can't reach. You'll need to use your ingenuity on how to cover the plug for any electrical thing, but don't allow your child inside until you do find that ingenuity.
- Shelves can be convenient, but make sure they are secure and high enough so that your child can't climb up.
- Any object that's the same size or smaller than your child's hand should be removed if the child is between 0-3 years of age.
Must have contents for your child's playroom:
- Age 0-18 months:
- Large toys with rounded sides.
- Balls, blocks, and toys that draw attention.
- Large, hard back books with lots of simple and colorful pictures.
- Toys that make sounds.
- Large, wooden puzzles
- Manipulative's that require the child to push or pull.
- Rugs for the floor
- I'd not use furniture at all. A wide, open space is best for a child at this age. Use plastic containers to store toys.
Age 18 months-3 yrs:
- Toys that stimulate speech and comprehension.
- Toys that picture objects, people and animals.
- Age appropriate books, and an adult to read those books to them.
- Provide puzzles galore.
- All those balls and blocks from the previous stage.
- At this stage, you should begin to introduce more complex manipulative's. Use toys that require the child to twist, turn, push or pull.
- Furniture should be small, low to the ground and soft to the touch, but another way to define space is to provide carpet squares instead of tables or chairs. One might be for all the blocks, and the other might be for dolls. Your child will begin to learn that everything they own has a home.
Age 3 years to 5 years:
- Toys that allow them to do those things you do.
- Pretend things, like child size mop, broom, vacumme and phones
- Lots of dolls, pretend kitchen equipment, and even a space for a pretend living room.
- Toys which inspire imagination, like your old clothes to play, “dress up.”
- Be creative and inspire your child's creativity too. Now you can buy those Lagos and other smaller manipulative's to help develop cognitive and fine motor skills.
- Now, it's safe to provide crayons, markers and paper to draw on, but another great idea might be to buy the kind of paint that dries like a chalk board. That way your child can pretend to be a teacher. Buy a large easy erase board to hang on the wall.
- Use your carpet squares to define an artist's space, with an easel and water colors and brushes. You can use your husband's old dress shirts to cover their clothes.
Beyond five years:
By now, you know what you're doing, so this is where my ideas for your child's playroom concludes. Good luck to you and I hope you have fun too.
