Playroom Set-Up

[spud912]

Ok, so with all of the set-up threads I have seen (and posted) lately, I figured I would throw this out there:

1. If you were a parent looking for child care, what would you want to see in an in-home daycare set-up?
2. If you had all the money (hypothetically from grants) and a "perfectly" set up house for daycare, how would you set-up your daycare?

[spud912]

In response to my own questions:

Ok, so with all of the set-up threads I have seen (and posted) lately, I figured I would throw this out there:

1. If you were a parent looking for child care, what would you want to see in an in-home daycare set-up?
   I would want my provider to be tidy and organized with a bright room. I would want the provider to have a variety of activities for my child and different "centers." I would ideally want a separate napping room that is peaceful. For outside, I would want a lot of running space and see evidence of a lot of outdoor play (not necessarily a ton of toys or clutter, just see that it used frequently). I would want the overall set-up to stimulate my children's imagination.
2. If you had all the money (hypothetically from grants) and a "perfectly" set up house for daycare, how would you set-up your daycare?
   I would have a separate "guest house" for daycare ::. It would have its own entrance for parents. I would want a kitchen that is open to the playroom (yet separate). There would be one large playroom with sunroofs, separated by pony walls into a 0-1 age room, 1-3 age room, and 3-5 age room. Each space would have tables, chairs, and age-appropriate toys, separated into centers. There would be a separate nap room, a separate sun-type room that is indoors where I would have an indoor playground. And then of course we would have a great set-up outside!

I saw a website one time for an in-home daycare that was super eclectic with things hanging everywhere and most of the play space was in the backyard. I thought that although it looks completely different from my set-up or something I would ever do, I would totally send my kids there! It made my imagination go wild, so I could only imagine what kids would think!

[Hunni Bee]

My perfect daycare setup would be several small rooms rather one large one, or even one really large one.

That's the way its set up in the center where I work. I initially didn't like it, but it goes a long way toward "everything in its place" and so much easier to keep clean. It would sound like three rooms must be harder to keep clean than one, but not at all. I often wish I had more space, but everything has its drawbacks.

I would like lots of shelving and bins. I love containers, I hate things just piled up. I would love more than one way in/out of a room. I like bright, tropical colors...I hate the primary red/blue/green/yellow and the nursery pastels. I love wood furnishings, but plastic can go as long as its one color. I must have the room arranged in centers, but I wouldn't be anal about it. My kids rarely stay in one center and play, but I do have rules about not mixing everything together.

I must have large windows, I love natural light. A big yard area with grass is a must too.

Cant wait to create my own space

[countrymom]

I think it has to look like kids can play there. It has to have enough stuff for all ages. Also child friendly furniture. There is an ad on one of the selling sites and it has pictures of a poker table with card table chairs, I'm not sure about you all but none of my kids are allowed to play poker, yet alone sit on those kind of chairs.

also, I hate seeing things piled upon pile. I love neat and tidy. Everything should have a home. It has to smell nice too and bright.

[originalkat]

Windows are a must for me. I would be looking for a bright, organized space. Plenty of art and sensory going on. I would want it to look "lived in"...meaning children were working on things, ongoing projects and learning going on. It would be great to have a separate entrance, bath, and attached play yard with covered patio, nature-based activity areas outside etc... I am trying to create this in my own setting for families. But money....I tell you...if it just grew on trees.

[My3cents]

I think it would depend on the provider. If the provider had a bubbly personality and a love for what she does. It would also depend on the child.

I of course would love the stream line, everything in order, smells nice look
but I would also like the
family lived in, home cooking smell, tons of toy and things to do.

I tend to go towards the whimsical fun, colorful, lived in, clean look, tons of things to do and explore

I think a lot of factors would come into play and I probably could tell you what I wouldn't like more----
bad attitudes
uppity personality
dirty
animals, no offense to those of you that have them and I love animals-
smell of poo and pee when you walked through the door or stinky feet
other family hanging around that looked undesirable
messy messy, beyond lived in outside and inside
toys that were dirty or broken
a provider that was unkept
signs of bad nutrition
unhappy looking children in the care
a pool