Must Be That Time Of Year, I Want To Rearrange My Playroom!!!

[Heidi]

thanks for all the input so far. I tried moving a few things around today and it seems the biggest problem is the area where the dramatic play/toys are now (top left corner of pic) is the biggest area and that "center" is where I need the most space as that is the "main" play area for all the kids. That wall is not big enough to break into 2 areas and then have the table/art cabinet. If I put the infant area there in the corner I don't need all that space but then its not big enough to add another of the areas I need. Does that make sense???

what are the room dimensions? Do you cook in the room, or just serve meals?

[Crazy8]

what are the room dimensions? Do you cook in the room, or just serve meals?

room is long/narrow, about 17' x 13'. Kids eat at little table in there but their lunches are prepared in the kitchen, just a few steps away. I rearranged and took some pics tonight. I don't like it the new way, I think I'm stuck with how I had it.

[Crazy8]

ok, here is a quick change I made tonight - was just working on placement. I do like the baby area in a corner - can do it with the 9 cube that is there or put a 6 cube one there instead so its low on both sides (those cubes would be facing the baby area, not facing the reading area like in the pic).


I'm ok with the reading area here too - its much more closed in than it was before (again, those cubbies would actually face the other way, just didn't feel like moving things more tonight)...


BUT... I hate the dramatic play area on the other side of the room. Its just not big enough and too open at the same time - I've had it this way in the past and it was just a recipe for a giant mess all the time and too much space for wild play. Behind the kitchen is the changing table - just enough room for me to get in there and change diapers. But I really am not happy with this set up on this side. So I think it has to go back to the corner it was in.

[countrymom]

I would ditch the baby area.
try putting the 2 small units under the window and put your kitchen in that corner, leave it open.
I would move the reading corner near the change table, because you don't have alot of stuff. If you want a baby area, how about getting one of those large baby gate things and put it near the enterance.

or how about putting your change table near the window.

[Crazy8]

I would ditch the baby area.
try putting the 2 small units under the window and put your kitchen in that corner, leave it open.
I would move the reading corner near the change table, because you don't have alot of stuff. If you want a baby area, how about getting one of those large baby gate things and put it near the enterance.

or how about putting your change table near the window.

I could ditch the "idea" of having a baby area but I still have the stuff I need the space for - that arch house thingy in the pics, the baby rocker chair, the exersaucer, etc. These are all items I need for the younger kids in my care (as I've said my kids only go up to about 3-4 years old tops) so I need some place for that stuff even if I don't section off the baby area.

really can't move the changing table - this is the first room you see when you walk in my house, the changing table is tucked in the furthest corner. If it was by the window it would literally be the first thing you saw when you walked in my house... NOT the image I want.

[Heidi]

ok, here is a quick change I made tonight - was just working on placement. I do like the baby area in a corner - can do it with the 9 cube that is there or put a 6 cube one there instead so its low on both sides (those cubes would be facing the baby area, not facing the reading area like in the pic).


I'm ok with the reading area here too - its much more closed in than it was before (again, those cubbies would actually face the other way, just didn't feel like moving things more tonight)...


BUT... I hate the dramatic play area on the other side of the room. Its just not big enough and too open at the same time - I've had it this way in the past and it was just a recipe for a giant mess all the time and too much space for wild play. Behind the kitchen is the changing table - just enough room for me to get in there and change diapers. But I really am not happy with this set up on this side. So I think it has to go back to the corner it was in.

hmmm...let me ponder a little. Do you have a small table and chairs laying around anywhere? If you put that new rug down in dramatic play, then anchored it with a table and chairs (or better, yet, stools) for 2, you'd add to the appeal, and take up a little free space...slowing down the running.

You could also enclose the area with my previous idea (the birch poles surrounded by tulle and lights), or something similar. I know budgets are always tight, but if you can afford it, how about one of those dress up units with the mirror on one end?

http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=22064&category=797&CategorySearch=&Brand=&Price=

It could be another "wall" of your "house"...

Do parents ever come in the space, or do you hand the kids out or over the gate?

I notice that you have lots of lovely books, but no where for YOU to sit. Do you just sit on the floor or kid furniture?

[Crazy8]

thanks Heidi for the input (don't want to quote and make it too long, LOL!).

I thought of getting a table and chair for the dramatic play area when it was in the original spot (photo in 1st post) but where it is now on the other side its coming out into the middle of the room - so a table and chairs in there would really disrupt the space to walk. That is why I say its too open - from the path from the gate its just not defined enough. I know its hard to explain if you aren't walking it. Parents don't really come in the space - drop off is in my entry so that is not an issue.

So far this morning the kids have DESTROYED the room. The kitchen doesn't stay put - a little push and its against the changing table, toys are EVERYWHERE in the middle - the way it was back before I painted and put all this furniture in there. I guess that's my best indicator of what works - how the kids view/play given the space, right?? Maybe I need to just let go of what I would like to see and go based on them!

[Lianne]

Do you have to have the kitchen and the tool bench out at the same time? I prefer not to and then I switch it up every month. The kids are then excited to have somethi ng 'new' to play with. I'd put the kitchen on the wall where the 6 cube shelf is and, depending on what's needed in the cubes, move the 6 cube one to the other side of the baby area and then move the 9 cube shelf to the space where the kitchen currently is. I'd personally remove the tool bench but if you can, leave it where it is.

[Heidi]

thanks Heidi for the input (don't want to quote and make it too long, LOL!).

I thought of getting a table and chair for the dramatic play area when it was in the original spot (photo in 1st post) but where it is now on the other side its coming out into the middle of the room - so a table and chairs in there would really disrupt the space to walk. That is why I say its too open - from the path from the gate its just not defined enough. I know its hard to explain if you aren't walking it. Parents don't really come in the space - drop off is in my entry so that is not an issue.

So far this morning the kids have DESTROYED the room. The kitchen doesn't stay put - a little push and its against the changing table, toys are EVERYWHERE in the middle - the way it was back before I painted and put all this furniture in there. I guess that's my best indicator of what works - how the kids view/play given the space, right?? Maybe I need to just let go of what I would like to see and go based on them!

Yep..you gotta go with what works!

If it were me, I'd divide the room up in quarters of 5'-6'x 8.5' or so (with a walkway down the middle), and use each as a different "center". Dramatic play, blocks and manipulatives, eating/art/science, and quiet play/reading/literature.

I'd ditch that big plastic baby toy thingie, too (probably use it outside). I hate big plastic anything, though, in the house. yuck....sorry.


I know what you mean about those kitchens. They move... Would putting down the rug you have help with that?

I don't know just how much you'd like to invest in your business in the future-or how many years you intend to do this. If you're in it for a long haul, I'd start investing in some high-quality items such as a wooden kitchen (and use the current one outside), an acrylic mirror and place to display dress-up clothes, and wood table and stools.

I wish I had that amount of space! My primary dc room is 8x10. It's hard to be creative with that. I have so many ideas that I can't put into practice...

[Crazy8]

Yep..you gotta go with what works!

If it were me, I'd divide the room up in quarters of 5'-6'x 8.5' or so (with a walkway down the middle), and use each as a different "center". Dramatic play, blocks and manipulatives, eating/art/science, and quiet play/reading/literature.

I'd ditch that big plastic baby toy thingie, too (probably use it outside). I hate big plastic anything, though, in the house. yuck....sorry.


I know what you mean about those kitchens. They move... Would putting down the rug you have help with that?

I don't know just how much you'd like to invest in your business in the future-or how many years you intend to do this. If you're in it for a long haul, I'd start investing in some high-quality items such as a wooden kitchen (and use the current one outside), an acrylic mirror and place to display dress-up clothes, and wood table and stools.

I wish I had that amount of space! My primary dc room is 8x10. It's hard to be creative with that. I have so many ideas that I can't put into practice...

The kids love that big stupid thing, but I should get rid of it, its such a space gobbler! Its funny to look at pics and see the stuff that has come and gone from my daycare. I have been doing this 11 years so far - my own youngest goes to 1st grade in the Fall so I'm really not sure how much longer I will keep doing this so not going to invest in anything huge, but I don't mind spending a little here or there, you know?

The room was sort of quartered before - upper left dramatic play/toys, upper right was blocks/trains/cars, lower left was art/table/puzzles, lower right was the only one divided into reading and baby play stuff. The problem is I NEED the baby stuff and of course its always big stuff - I always have at least one under a year old, sometimes have as many as 3 under 2 years old!!! I don't have the older preschool kids here - they almost ALWAYS go off to preschool at age 3 so I have to be careful with things of many pieces many of my age group tend to be "dumpers" - therefore I keep puzzles and many manipulatives up in little unit by the table.

The room is driving us all crazy today - its definitely not working for me or the kids!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to switch it back tonight, still hoping maybe I can find a slight change that will make it a little better.

[Crazy8]

Do you have to have the kitchen and the tool bench out at the same time? I prefer not to and then I switch it up every month. The kids are then excited to have somethi ng 'new' to play with. I'd put the kitchen on the wall where the 6 cube shelf is and, depending on what's needed in the cubes, move the 6 cube one to the other side of the baby area and then move the 9 cube shelf to the space where the kitchen currently is. I'd personally remove the tool bench but if you can, leave it where it is.

I almost took the tool bench out last night and had the exact same thought, just rotating that with the kitchen - but then I had the space for it so left it. Its kind of like, yes, I can take it out but then the "free space" is still in that area which I don't need, I need the free space somewhere else, LOL!

Even the kitchen, they don't always really play WITH it, they just take the food toys and everything OUT of it to play with on the floor half the time. But once in a while some do actually play on the toy as designed, LOL!!!!

[Heidi]

so...you're basically running a birth-to-3 program, and do not do preschoolers, for the most part?

have you looked at any of the early childhood catalogs? Community Playthings has floor plans right on their website for various age groups, and so do a few others. Maybe you could borrow some ideas from them...

[countrymom]

I don't have any baby stuff and I run also from 6 months to now age 4 (they are all going to school here at age 4-its a canadian thing) I found that baby toys are all big and bulky, I had a exerasaucer once and I had a 4 yr old climb in it and play that was the end of that. My kids love the tool area, they are constantly fixing something.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

The kids love that big stupid thing, but I should get rid of it, its such a space gobbler!...The problem is I NEED the baby stuff and of course its always big stuff - I always have at least one under a year old, sometimes have as many as 3 under 2 years old!!!

The kids love it because it's there, but if it weren't, and there were other wonderful options, they wouldn't miss it. I'd consider whether you really "need" that stuff. I actually think babies "need" very little. Love, attention, conversation, outdoors, something interesting to explore. I don't use any baby supplies other than teethers. My essentials for babies are board books, things to dump and things to put the dumped stuff back into. Space to move. A mirror to see themselves in. Something to pull up on (i.e. the coffee table or couch). Extras: balls, instruments, dolls. Maybe you could try putting the questionable stuff in the basement/garage/attic for a few weeks to test what happens.

An example from my home: I once had two toddlers stringing large wooden beads onto knotted strings, which they then taped to the edge of the coffee table, under which my infant daughter lay on a blanket. "Baby gym," but made by kids and removable. Emphasis on relationships, rather than on stuff.

[Indianadaycare]

The kids love it because it's there, but if it weren't, and there were other wonderful options, they wouldn't miss it. I'd consider whether you really "need" that stuff. I actually think babies "need" very little. Love, attention, conversation, outdoors, something interesting to explore. I don't use any baby supplies other than teethers. My essentials for babies are board books, things to dump and things to put the dumped stuff back into. Space to move. A mirror to see themselves in. Something to pull up on (i.e. the coffee table or couch). Extras: balls, instruments, dolls. Maybe you could try putting the questionable stuff in the basement/garage/attic for a few weeks to test what happens.

An example from my home: I once had two toddlers stringing large wooden beads onto knotted strings, which they then taped to the edge of the coffee table, under which my infant daughter lay on a blanket. "Baby gym," but made by kids and removable. Emphasis on relationships, rather than on stuff.

Agreed! Well said!