Is there an extra bedroom in the house? Is there space in the den or in a converted garage? Why not consider using it to create the perfect playroom for children to learn and grow. While having a playroom is not one of the essentials of childhood -- it can certainly be fun.
Choosing a Wall Color and Decorations for the Playroom
When deciding to design a space for children, it's often tempting to give in to their demands to paint the walls of the playroom their favorite shade of "Sponge Bob" yellow or "Barbie" pink. But children grow, and their tastes will frequently change. So using a solid neutral color on the wall is a good idea -- especially if the room will be shared by more than one child.
Pillows that display your kids’ favorite cartoon characters, posters, throw rugs, and their personal artwork can be added to satisfy their individual tastes. So when they decide that they've outgrown Barbie, removing the pink pillows and posters will be a lot easier than trying to rid the wall of an entire paint color.
Choosing Playroom Furnishings
A child’s playroom doesn’t need to have elaborate furnishings. A nice child-sized table and chairs where they can play with puzzles and art materials, a low bookshelf, and a child-sized lounger or bean bag will be enough to furnish his play space.
Selecting Toys for the Playroom
The things that fill your kid's playroom should be a reflection of his interest as well as beneficial to his development. The following is a list of things to consider placing in your child's space.
- books and magazines
- dolls and doll clothes
- dress-up clothes
- toy cars and trucks
- puzzles and blocks
- housekeeping materials (kitchen set, pretend food items, toy brooms, dishes, phones, etc.)
- science materials (magnifying glasses, rocks, leaves, pinecones, bug boxes, etc.)
- small motor manipulative (pegs, lacing cards, sorting materials)
- television
- DVD player
- radio
- favorite movies
- board games
- creative materials (crayons, markers, paint, paintbrushes, paper, glitter, glue, collage material, etc.)
- play dough and modeling clay
- stencils
- empty boxes (varying sizes)
“Children can lose interest after seeing the same toys day after day, which leads parents to buy even more toys. Instead rotate your educational toys daily, weekly or monthly depending on your child’s interest. You can even create rotation schedules to follow themes or seasons.” Says Rosalee Dotson in her article, “How to Create an Educational Playroom.”
With a little imagination and ingenuity, creating the perfect playroom for your children will be a success.
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