Quiet/ Reading Area Setup

[JoseyJo]

We have always had children around the same ages (all around 2, or all around 3yo, last year they were all between 3.5 and 5) so we changed our set up as our kids got older to meet their needs.

But now we will be having 3 kids move on to K and we are getting a 18 mo girl, 2.5 yo boy, 3 yo boy. Our current kids are dcg 3.5, dcb4.5, dcg4.5, dcb4.75, and dcb4.75

I am nervous about having such a wide (for us!) age group and want to make sure our set up works for them all. Here are some of my thoughts and pics of our current set up. Please help w/ ideas!!

1. maybe add a quiet/reading area- where to put it? ideas on how big, materials (pillows, bean bags) rules for it, etc

2. add a mirror- where to put it, how high, etc

3. what do i do with the littler ones mouthing everything and pulling all the toys out of the baskets?- maybe a superyard? if so where to i put it? Is that appropriate for an 18 mo? Most of our kids have been w/ us since 18 months but they were all that age then so we just had the whole area set up for that age.

Any other ideas that will help make the transition to a mixed group easier!

Thanks so much for any ideas!!

The front door opens onto front room w/ wood floors. Right inside the front door to the right is the open doorway to the first playroom. Walking straight from the front door through the front room is the kitchen through an open doorway. The 2nd playroom and the bathroom are right off the kitchen to the right.

Link to pics of my daycare setup:

https://plus.google.com/photos/107132902283363310814/albums/5905744622150030673?authkey=CPKWwrGwl7Cb5wE

[MsLaura529]

A reading area would be great - gives them just a quiet, comfy place to hang out, read a book, or even just sit by themselves if they want. I have a small book shelf and some Ikea larger-sized throw pillows, and a rug in mine. I don't really have any rules for it right now, except that when they take one book out, they need to put it back before taking another one out (and we're still working on that, haha).

I would do a full-length mirror ... do you have dress up clothes? I would put it by those, or wherever your dramatic play area could be. A mirror is one of the top things on my list for my next big purchase time.

[JoseyJo]

Yes- we have baskets of dress up clothes in playroom #1 (in pics) in the white tote w/ holes on the bottom shelf and in the wicker basket on the next shelf up. We are definitely open to rearranging though if there is a more efficient use of our space

[JoseyJo]

Anyone have any idea on a good place to put the reading area or how big to make it?

[Heidi]

Anyone have any idea on a good place to put the reading area or how big to make it?

I would make it fairly small, since you really only want 1 or 2 kiddos in it at a time. If you can use a book rack or low shelf to block off the area, then 2 20x20 pillows on the floor between the book rack and wall. That would be big enough to crawl in and get comfy with a book.

[JoseyJo]

I would make it fairly small, since you really only want 1 or 2 kiddos in it at a time. If you can use a book rack or low shelf to block off the area, then 2 20x20 pillows on the floor between the book rack and wall. That would be big enough to crawl in and get comfy with a book.

Thanks!

[Blackcat31]

When I was in 3rd grade .... my teacher had a giant clawfoot bathtub FULL of pillows....it was right next to the bookshelf.

It was the BEST place to snuggle up and read....it seemed as though you were invisible while in it and atleast a couple kids could fit comfortably so....

I've always wanted to get one and use it for a reading/quiet place.

You have a big enough space that it would work great!

Just a thought....

[JoseyJo]

I was thinking it may work in playroom #2 where the white table is. The only problem is that is also the room we keep the musical instruments in - may not very conducive to quiet reading

[JoseyJo]

When I was in 3rd grade .... my teacher had a giant clawfoot bathtub FULL of pillows....it was right next to the bookshelf.

It was the BEST place to snuggle up and read....it seemed as though you were invisible while in it and atleast a couple kids could fit comfortably so....

I've always wanted to get one and use it for a reading/quiet place.

You have a big enough space that it would work great!

Just a thought....

Wow! That would be awesome! Have to see if I can get my hands on one- or even maybe a ledged "box" of some kind that we could fill full of pillows and put in that corner where the table is now... HMMMM

[Blackcat31]

Wow! That would be awesome! Have to see if I can get my hands on one- or even maybe a ledged "box" of some kind that we could fill full of pillows and put in that corner where the table is now... HMMMM

Obviously someone else had the same idea....

I wouldn't leave the faucet on it though....seems that could be an accident waiting to happen.

In my area, claw foot bath tubs are given away on Craig's List daily because they are too heavy to dispose of.... :: their loss could be your gain.

[JoseyJo]

So, so cool! I am gonna look for one right now! - okay, just looked on craigslist- they are selling them for $300 plus! I guess I will have to just keep a look out.