Playing on the Shelves

[Lyss]

I don't let my kids on the shelves or tables. My kids try to climb on the table to see outside but we eat on that table so I don't want them thinking its ok to climb on it. Of course all the DCKs get it but my DD is the one that is constantly testing this! ::

I brought out a toddler climber (without the top so its stairs, platform, slide) and put it next to the window where the table was, so they can climb on that and see outside. They don't try to climb on anything now that we have that out.

[Lorna]

I am constantly saying toys on the floor. I was allowing the table. But way too many toys hitting the floor. Like the hard plastic ones and learning toys that could get broken.

[rmc20021]

Oh my gosh...I haven't been this excited in years!

I felt I was the ONLY one who didn't allow playing on the shelves, window sills etc. and I felt horrible for it, but now I see I'm not such a bad guy after all.

I also tell the kids play on the floor with all toys, and I have some airplanes they want to fly through the air...I let them do it, but the plane itself must be below the chin level of the smallest child in care, and they cannot run, or even walk in circles (something about them starting out walking in a circle and it always leads to a fast walk, then into a run).

All matchbox cars etc must remain in hand at all times...no flying them over ramps etc because if another child happened to be in the line of fire, it could hit them in the face.

Thank you all so much for making me feel normal...now I can relay this message to my kids without the guilt.

[Blackcat31]

All matchbox cars etc must remain in hand at all times...

Same here.

Here is a great video about one handed car play

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1LyRILn4gQ

[spud912]

I'm more laid back with this. I really don't care where they play with their toys as long as they are not all over the place and other kids are not tripping on it. Oh, and I don't like toys outside of the playroom (ie, no toys in the kitchen, in the living room, in the dining room, in the bathroom). Most of the kids play on the play table. I don't really have shelves (Ikea bins) and the windowsills are blocked by the blinds, but there are counters that I encourage play (a counter where a castle "dollhouse" is secured to, the play kitchen "counter," and the wooden workbench).

Then again, I'm a strange one that actually allows moderate amounts of active play in the house (including running ) as long as it doesn't get out of hand.

[Thetotspot]

I feel like the odd man out here but we have a huge sill that i actually set toys on for the kids and i arranged our shelving units to have a 3 ft by 2 foot low section in the middle specifically for kids to use if they would like. The kids occassionally even use the train table and light table for toys that arent related to that area...and as long as we are respectful i dont mind a bit. If we start banging on them or crawling on top the table to play with the toys...then ill correct them and that is simply for safety. Train tables arent meant to hold 25 pound children...and i dont want the table or the child to break!! Sometimes the children would rather play on the floor...but i find the children to become more engaged in their play when they are playing around a table that they can access from all directions that is low enough that they arent tip toeing...but high enough they dont have to kneel. For instance...we just got a light table. The second day it was there...a child built a small log cabin out of lincoln logs and used another long lincoln log as a car and two small logs as people and he parked the car by the house and was engaging in conversation with the other logs he pretended were people. At first i felt like stopping it...how dare he put wooden non translucent objects on my brand new light table...i stopped myself and reasoned that worse case scenario we get a scratch on the table...but like the plastic pieces and ceayons and glass we use on it wont scratch it...right? So instead i watched and noted this child has never touched a lincoln log in his entire time in my care. So the light table facilitated and interest...it facilitated learning and exploration...that is something i try to never stop. Now...fast forward a couple hours...the kid that tries to sit on said train table tried to reach across for a toy...couldnt reach...tried to climb up. I did stop him mid climb. The light table wSnt built for climbing.

[Thetotspot]

Excuse my typos. I am typing on my phone and either the keyboard takes up the entire screen or i can only see words on one side of the entry box. Oopsies.

[daycarediva]

Same here.

Here is a great video about one handed car play

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1LyRILn4gQ

The example of two handed car play is EXACTLY what my dcb does, and how he has been hurt at home on numerous occassions. His parents STILL won't carry that rule to home either.

[Heidi]

I feel like the odd man out here but we have a huge sill that i actually set toys on for the kids and i arranged our shelving units to have a 3 ft by 2 foot low section in the middle specifically for kids to use if they would like. The kids occassionally even use the train table and light table for toys that arent related to that area...and as long as we are respectful i dont mind a bit. If we start banging on them or crawling on top the table to play with the toys...then ill correct them and that is simply for safety. Train tables arent meant to hold 25 pound children...and i dont want the table or the child to break!! Sometimes the children would rather play on the floor...but i find the children to become more engaged in their play when they are playing around a table that they can access from all directions that is low enough that they arent tip toeing...but high enough they dont have to kneel. For instance...we just got a light table. The second day it was there...a child built a small log cabin out of lincoln logs and used another long lincoln log as a car and two small logs as people and he parked the car by the house and was engaging in conversation with the other logs he pretended were people. At first i felt like stopping it...how dare he put wooden non translucent objects on my brand new light table...i stopped myself and reasoned that worse case scenario we get a scratch on the table...but like the plastic pieces and ceayons and glass we use on it wont scratch it...right? So instead i watched and noted this child has never touched a lincoln log in his entire time in my care. So the light table facilitated and interest...it facilitated learning and exploration...that is something i try to never stop. Now...fast forward a couple hours...the kid that tries to sit on said train table tried to reach across for a toy...couldnt reach...tried to climb up. I did stop him mid climb. The light table wSnt built for climbing.