Playroom Set-ups

[mac60]

Crazy8, I love your room and the color!

Melskids, can you explain how you have the canopy attached to your patio.

My patio is actually cement and in the afternoons/evenings, the sun beats down on us.

Any suggestions on how to put up a canopy over grass and honker it down so it doesn't blow away.

[melskids]

Crazy8, I love your room and the color!

Melskids, can you explain how you have the canopy attached to your patio.

My patio is actually cement and in the afternoons/evenings, the sun beats down on us.

Any suggestions on how to put up a canopy over grass and honker it down so it doesn't blow away.

The canopy on my patio I bought from discount school supply. I screwed it right to the wood so it wouldn't blow away. I know you said yours is cement. There are special screws to screw into cement, but I don't know if you wanted to do that.

The canopies I have in the grass are staked down with the same stakes you use for tents. They all stay fairly secure for the most part. The big 10x10 canopy over the sand pit is also tied on three poles to my fence.

I also use beach umbrellas over certain areas, I just make sure I hammer them down far into the ground, and close them every night so they don't blow inside out.

[Momma Duck]

Amazing!

Here are some of mine....some of them are old, as I'm ALWAYS rearranging!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...7697472&type=1

I particularly enjoy all the thought you've put in to your outdoor classroom! I have been a family child care home for 18 years and am finally able to dedicate the whole downstairs for a classroom. Will be so wonderful to have a classroom, a separate bath and a straight shot no stairs entrance and exit to the yard. I'm excited! We will be arranging everything for the switch this summer. I cannot wait!

[melskids]

I particularly enjoy all the thought you've put in to your outdoor classroom! I have been a family child care home for 18 years and am finally able to dedicate the whole downstairs for a classroom. Will be so wonderful to have a classroom, a separate bath and a straight shot no stairs entrance and exit to the yard. I'm excited! We will be arranging everything for the switch this summer. I cannot wait!

Thanks! I have alot more plans for this summer too...thanks to my pinterest obsession. I'm thinking a music wall, and a woodworking area, and some tires and wood planks, and a weaving wall , and garden trellis', and one of those wood bridges over a dry creek bed....and a......

I need a pin-tervention. ::

Welcome to the forum, BTW!

[countrymom]

Thanks! I have alot more plans for this summer too...thanks to my pinterest obsession. I'm thinking a music wall, and a woodworking area, and some tires and wood planks, and a weaving wall , and garden trellis', and one of those wood bridges over a dry creek bed....and a......

I need a pin-tervention. ::

Welcome to the forum, BTW!

wow, you sure have alot of stuff, and here i thought i had a lot of stuff. You have some really neat ideas, I love the shutter idea, that would work here for sure, my ds would love this. I totally understand pintrest, dh is complaining that I keep getting crazy ideas from there. For my outside I want to build a fort out of wood.

anyone know how to post pictures, I've tried but I can't figure it out.

[Blackcat31]

anyone know how to post pictures, I've tried but I can't figure it out.

https://www.daycare.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_reading_posting#faq_vb3_attachments

The FAQ section explains how to add attachments and photos to your post.

[My3cents]

Mel, I noticed all your storage is open. How big of an issue is clean up time for you? It seems like every toy you have is out for use. I like that idea but the reality is that I have some kids at the "dumping" stage where every single container in the room would be spilled out and stepped on before they move to the next toy. I think I might have a younger group than you though......5 that are 2 or younger.

Bump. Bump. and Bump!

Before I tear out every hair on my head. How do you all deal with having toys out to play with but dealing with the dumping.

Three kiddo's under two and all they want to do is clear the shelves and dump out any container holding anything. I bought the big flexible containers to hold toys and they dump. They have a beautiful space to play in, but in no time its cluttered with toys. I have tried taking stuff out- you name it. Ideas, helps, Then they are bored in no time- I want them to have things to play with but everything ends up on the floor in a big pile or scattered pile. Frustrated to no end...... Five that are under two.....wow

[My3cents]

Mel, I noticed all your storage is open. How big of an issue is clean up time for you? It seems like every toy you have is out for use. I like that idea but the reality is that I have some kids at the "dumping" stage where every single container in the room would be spilled out and stepped on before they move to the next toy. I think I might have a younger group than you though......5 that are 2 or younger.

I wanted to say everything would be on the floor and the kid's would be in the containers. I had to take mine out. Then when the lids were on they would undo them. Again my group is under two and I would love love love some ideas on this. I do give them containers to fill and dump.

[melskids]

I spend alot of time modeling how to play with the toys in each area, and how to properly clean them up.

When things get out of control, we regroup, clean up, and start again.

I don't mind the mess, I suppose. I see it as part of the learning process as well. These children are so young, and need to learn social skills and self help skills before I worry about formal teaching. So, if we spend all day learning how to clean up our messes, proper table manners, and how to dress ourselves, then so be it. Academics will come in time.

If the kids are truly engaged in what they are doing, I have no problem quietly cleaning up behind them so they can continue in their play.

And like I said above, if I have relentless dumpers, kids purposely chucking stuff, or outright refusing to clean up, it all gets packed away and we start over slowly re-introducing toys into each area.

I guess my advice is to embrace the mess, and be consistent with clean up.

[cheerfuldom]

eek! crazy picture. I just cant handle that amount of mess....

[countrymom]

I spend alot of time modeling how to play with the toys in each area, and how to properly clean them up.

When things get out of control, we regroup, clean up, and start again.

I don't mind the mess, I suppose. I see it as part of the learning process as well. These children are so young, and need to learn social skills and self help skills before I worry about formal teaching. So, if we spend all day learning how to clean up our messes, proper table manners, and how to dress ourselves, then so be it. Academics will come in time.

If the kids are truly engaged in what they are doing, I have no problem quietly cleaning up behind them so they can continue in their play.

And like I said above, if I have relentless dumpers, kids purposely chucking stuff, or outright refusing to clean up, it all gets packed away and we start over slowly re-introducing toys into each area.

I guess my advice is to embrace the mess, and be consistent with clean up.

[ATTACH]886[/ATTACH]

omg, thats my house. We run the same daycare styles. another thing that works is that at 4pm my own children come home all the kids know that they have to clean up before the big kids come home, its so funny, you have to see them, its like the big kids are monsters.

[melskids]

eek! crazy picture. I just cant handle that amount of mess....

It's not always THAT bad...

...Except when it's worse!

Some days just be like that

[MizzCheryl]

Here are some of mine....some of them are old, as I'm ALWAYS rearranging!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...7697472&type=1

I love Love Love your ideas. !!
You are so smart!
Can I copy?
I am working changing up some stuff and found you post.
It is great!

[melskids]

I love Love Love your ideas. !!
You are so smart!
Can I copy?
I am working changing up some stuff and found you post.
It is great!

Awww...thanks.

It's constantly a work in progress. I'm always changing things up and I'm trying to get rid of plastic, all while on budget and space restrictions. If only I had more of those two things!!!!!

[lucky]

Melskids I agree with Clueless. Love your space and your blog. I have borrowed lots of your ideas! Thanks for the inspiration.