Fireplace?

[JeepGirl6]

We are moving to our new house this weekend. The daycare is going to be in the finished basement but their is a brick fireplace down there. Any ideas or pictures on how to cover it or make it not visible so the children dont get hurt? If you have a fireplace in your daycare area what did yoy do? Thanks!!

[canadiancare]

can you afford a natural gas insert? I wouldn't use it with the kids because it gets hot but it would be nice for you sometimes.

Otherwise you could have a contractor close the chimney and you could put book shelves in it and make it into a reading nook.

[MsLaura529]

I've seen people who have put up some of those Super Yard gates in front of their fire place.

[Patches]

I blocked mine off with a big gate that mounts into the wall. It had mesh material on it so the kids can't stick their hands through. It also is not flat against the fireplace, it forms a triangle, so there is a space back there and I store some things back in that space. I could PM you a picture if you want. I know that probably sounds confusing

[Meeko]

I have a fireplace in my kitchen. It passes inspection because first...we don't use it (!) and second, it has fireplace doors. Maybe you could have them installed?

My state rules just says a fireplace must be inaccessible to the kids. It can be used during daycare hours even...just as long as the kids can't get near it at any time. If I used mine, I would have to also have something in front of it as the doors would get hot. The doors are sufficient if the fireplace is not used as the kids can't open it and climb in!!

The photo is from a couple Christmas's ago, but shows my fireplace doors.

(Please excuse the ugliest dining table and benches on the planet.......they will be changed one day soon! Right now, they are super functional, the table expands to stupid lengths and can fill the whole area if needs be....but sooooo ugly!! I dream of a beautiful dining set!)

[Sugar Magnolia]

I cover mine with a magnetic/dry erase board. I'm a center, the fireplace is in the main room, this.cover was approved by licensing/fire department.

[rmc20021]

I have a vent free gas fireplace right inside my front door at the entry (in the living room). It is not currently working but I'm thinking about replacing it for one that does.

My intention is to close the entire area off to where it looks as though it's a closet (would be about 2.5 ft x 4 ft which includes the hearth) so the kids couldn't have access to it, but still be able to use it when there are no kids here.

[JeepGirl6]

Thanks for everyone's input. We will not be using the fireplace, It does have a cover over it. My main concern in the brick because it comes out at the bottom like a ledge. My husband thought we could cover it with carpet or pillows but kids will be kids and I know they will still go over by it. I was thinking about maybe placing shelves in front of it so its not accessible?

[MarinaVanessa]

I know a provider that has a fireplace that she also doesn't use and she just placed bulletin paper over it (hers is a flat marble fireplace so the tape sticks) and then put plastic bins in front of the paper. She keeps her art materials, art supplies, play dough and play dough tools in the drawers ... you can do something similar and just put toys in the drawers.

Or maybe put a small shelf in front of it and fasten it to the wall with earthquake straps. No sense in wasting space. [not waste ].

[Sugar Magnolia]

Marina said "wasting waste". :: (snicker)

[slorey]

We have a hearth gate I believe it's from KidCo around the bricks and woodstove in our living room/main daycare space. It was a litle expensive but I love, love, love it! I don't have to worry about the kids getting hurt on the bricks or my own getting too close when we have a fire in the woodstove (only when daycare is not here). The panels can be adjusted to different angles, which was a plus for us because the brick in the front of our wood stove are kind of trapezoid shape if that makes sense. The ends screw into a wall and it has a walk-through door panel if needed. I would highly recommend one!

[MarinaVanessa]

Marina said "wasting waste". :: (snicker)

Ha ha ha, I did ::. Stupid phone. It's always making me look dumb. I swear it hates me

[mema]

Our fireplace has a ledge on it too. I have these on the stone so the edge isn't pointy

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12066903

I do use mine before daycare if it's chilly down there or if we are eating lunch (not in the area) and want to take the chill out.

[Brooksie]

Here in MD we aren't allowed to have the fireplace accessible and mine is RIGHT in the day care area. I covered it with plywood, secured it with screws and then painted it and put a toy organizer in front of it. Most people don't even notice it was ever there and the mantle is a useful place to store organized blocks and miscellaneous activities.