rearranging...yet again Haha sorry so long

[mamamanda]

I've posted about organizing the playroom several times since spring. I've found some things that work well, and some that don't work at all. I do want to post some pics of my sensory corner soon. That's the one area of the playroom that I'm truly happy with. I'd like to give it one more shot at rearranging to find a better flow to the room since my rowdy crew is moving on at the end of the week and the rest of us will be starting our school schedule in another week. I'd like to work on getting into a better routine starting on Monday.
Anyway, I've been reading a lot of posts on setting up a Montessori play space. I love, love, love the emphasis on order and a place for everything and everything in its place. I'd love to teach my kids to choose one activity at a time and commit to the activity. Then move on once they've cleaned it up. The one thing I keep coming back to though is the imaginative play. How do you keep this kind of an atmosphere and still encourage the imaginative play? Our playroom is always messy when they're playing (we clean up at the end of play time) and I hate the feeling of clutter off and on all day, but we often have something going like this: Large firetruck that fits four people is loaded down with stuffed animals (their kids), the mail box (so they can send letters on vacation), knapsacks full of play food (to feed their kids), 30 books (to read on vacation), totes of blocks and action figures (for the kids to play with) and the kids are all gathered around preparing for "vacation." I love the use of imagination, but hate the mess.
I'm thinking the number one issue which I've already started working on is that we need to majorly downsize. We have too many toys available at once. Each time I take some away they do better for a few days, but I'm thinking I need to move out about half of what we have for now. 4 totes full of different types of blocks is just too much for them.
-Also, I'm thinking maybe putting blocks, puzzles, toys with pieces all on one bookcase and telling them they have to choose one activity at a time and sit on a mat with them if they come off of that book case. Toys in the other part of the room can be moved around to play with like books, food, stuffed toys, etc. Do you think that would be more manageable?
- Is it realistic to expect them to understand these toys are one at a time, while those can be played with together?
-Finally, how many books is enough in one room? I'm an avid reader and my house is full of books in every room...kids books, adult books, cooking books...etc. I'm thinking they could pick up 10 books pretty quickly whereas they often pile up 30-50 in the back of the truck and that is just overwhelming, but I really struggle with limiting books. Thanks for any input!

[Heidi]

I don't know the size of your space, but I have two rooms.

Room one is the typical playroom. Dramatic play, blocks, duplos, a book rack, a cuddle corner, and various toys I rotate out. Group clean up at the end of play time. Big pain in my rear, but they need some of that, so I suffer.

Room 2 is our lunch room, art room, and "Montessori" room. I say Montessori, but it's more Montessori inspired. I have trays of "work", but not authentic Montessori stuff. There are puzzles, trays with Magna Tiles, trays with simple art activities (like small paper and a box of jumbo crayons on one, a jar of playdough and tools on another, a pair of scissors and paper to cut on a third).

In Room 2, they take an activity out, use it, and put it back. I show them how to carry the trays, how to put things back, etc. My 2 1/2 year olds totally get it, my just 2 is catching on. We usually spend only 2 hours a week in there "working" right now, but once winter comes and we're inside more, it'll be more time.

If you don't have 2 rooms, can you split your room in half? One side the "work" area, the other the "play area".

I've modified some Montessori activities like table washing. I didn't like the idea of a pitcher and bowl and super-wet washcloth, because my kids are younger. It seemed like a potential disaster for their ages. So, I have a small spray bottle with soapy water and a wash cloth in a basket. I've shown them how to put the basket on the floor, spray the table, unfold the washcloth, clean the table, fold the wash cloth, place it in the basket, put the spray bottle back on the shelf, and return it to the shelf; always using two hands to carry things. It's sort of the spirit of Montessori, but not as precise.

They also set the table (I made simple place mats with outlines), bus their own dishes, pour their own milk, serve some of their own food, and push their chairs in. There is a little dust pan and broom for sweeping up messes. Outside, there is a pitcher and cups for drinking water.

[yodaone]

I think limiting the number of toys is a wonderful idea. It keeps the kids interested in what is available to them at the time.

I totally understand your dilemma with the books though. I too have the same problem. What I've found that kinda helps with the issue is categorizing my books by season or theme. Then having just those books out during a given time. I try to rotate my books monthly, and this too keeps the kids interested in the books.

As far as the montessori aspect goes, I'm planning to do the same thing. I was thinking of offering a montessori structured time in the am. The kids would just be choosing their "work" from the activities/trays available at that specific time. Then in the afternoon during free play I will allow the kids to play with the other items that kind of get mixed together. These are just ideas, as I have not been able to try it yet. Soon though

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Books- I keep a bin of about 10 board books on the shelf that they can get out. I keep a bin of about 30 books on my desk that I will read or they may have if they ask me. If I leave books down they always get torn up. If I hand them to them- they treat them with respect and look at them and then give them back. I always have a mixed age group so there is always a little one that we need to watch with books! I rotate the books on my desk to go with theme/ season/ what I would like to read etc.