Things To Remember While Setting Up A Playroom For Children

“Play is our brain’s favourite way of learning.”

Watching children play is one of the many joys of parenthood. Childhood play is so much more than just another way to pass time. A paper published by the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that play is important for healthy brain development of children because that’s how they interact and explore the world around them. Children practice a multitude of skills while playing such as decision making, conflict resolution, negotiation, and other self-advocacy skills. Hence, parents need to create a space for children to engage in play. 

In this article, we will cover how to set up an activity area for children. 

• Things To Consider While Setting Up Temporary Activity Area
• How To Set Up A Play Area For Children: Montessori Inspired Playroom

Things To Consider While Setting Up Temporary Activity Area

• The nature of the activity. Is it a solo activity or team activity? 
• Different ways the child is expected to interact with the activity resources such as papers, colours, blocks, etc. 
• Ways to keep an eye on the child during activity and the level of supervision required.
• Things that could hinder the activity in focus such as other play resources.

How To Set Up A Play Area For Children: Montessori Inspired Playroom

Montessori inspired playrooms are one of the best ways to create an environment that encourages independence and concentration in children. To learn more about the Montessori method, you could read the book The Secret of Childhood.

Here are a few tips to create a Montessori inspired playroom:

• Ensure that the child can access things without asking for help. It will allow them to freely interact with the resources around them. 
• Have limited toys in the room. Rotate toys every other week to keep things interesting. 
• Make space for everything. Children benefit from order and consistency. Have a designated place for everything in the playroom. It will help them reach for the toys they want. 
• See things through the child’s eyes. Get down to their height and experience the playroom. It will help you see if the playroom looks attractive or overwhelming and then you can make changes accordingly.  
• Ensure that the playroom has open space to allow movement and exploration with others. 
• Use a variety of materials in the playroom such as wood and metal (avoid sharp edges though) along with plastic to help them explore differences. 

These are just some ways to set up a short term and long-term activity environment for children. They can be viewed as guidelines for setting up a playroom for your child. Use your parental discretion and figure out what works best for your child and make the necessary changes.  

Disclaimer: The term “Montessori” is neither copyrighted nor trademarked.