Help Me Problem Solve, 12-Month-Old With 3 & 4 Year Olds

[Baby Beluga]

Currently I have children ages 3 - 4 and one 12 month old sibling who just started this week.

Right now during free play the children do what we call centers. I have three large rugs and those are what we use to divide centers. This way we can have multiple toys and activities out without 1) having total toy chaos in the room and 2) keeping things neat and safe. It also allows for the children to make their own choices and go back and forth on their own. With the 12 month old being thrown into the mix, this week has been rough.

The 12 month old mouths everything (normal I know) and throws. And since the 12 month old doesn't understand the boundaries of the rugs, the older kids don't feel like they can play with anything they like because the pieces are too small. Little one was (not sure if he still is) kept in a gated area at home - one of those octagon shaped things. I am not too keen on keeping him in a gated area here, but at the same time how do I keep him safe with larger toys and allow the older children to play with smaller toys?

Years ago when I worked in the young toddler room at a center (12 - 18 months) we also separated areas with rugs. The children seemed to catch on quickly there.

Should I keep at it in hopes that he will catch on, or do I need to find another solution?

[Indoorvoice]

I don't know, I use the octagon gate a lot with my one and under kids. I think it's safe and gives them their own area to explore without bugging the big kids. I may do short sessions with them outside the gate, but here it provides me with lots of security and I'm OK with it as long as they can stay engaged in there.

[Baby Beluga]

Even if he is the only one? I feel bad that he would be in that area alone. He would still be in the same room and be able to talk and interact with the children (his are would be less than two feet from the nearest rug). Using a play yard would certainly help both groups during free play.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Even if he is the only one? I feel bad that he would be in that area alone. He would still be in the same room and be able to talk and interact with the children (his are would be less than two feet from the nearest rug). Using a play yard would certainly help both groups during free play.

If you already have the gate and would be out no $ then I'd give it a go! happyface

[Baby Beluga]

If you already have the gate and would be out no $ then I'd give it a go! happyface

I don't yet, but if it would help both age groups I would be happy to purchase one and try it out

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I don't yet, but if it would help both age groups I would be happy to purchase one and try it out

I would try it. Even if the 12-month-old wasn't in there for long periods of time it seems like it'd still be handy for certain parts of the day when you wanted to get out some small pieced things for the older children to play with. Or, the older kids could even go inside of it to play with small pieced things.

[Jupadia]

I have a superyard (8 sided gate) I just got it this year because of my own baby. It's been great for baby who's now 10 months I've been setting him in there since about 3 months. It's nice because I don't have to worry about the bigger kids tripping over him. They will interact with him through the sides or over thd top. I also use it for my one boy who is 16 months when his climbing is getting out of control or what not as long as my DS is not in it because dk can be a little rough. I pop at least one in their at a time if I'm out of the room to do a diaper change or such.

I've also created a coner for the big kids with a cardboard struture (play house thing for toys built from empty box's and tape) and the play kitchen I don't allow the 16m or 10m in it because thdn big kids can set up track or such. At the end of the day I just push both back to the wall the kids can also shift the box to get out. As well a couple time now when I have both little ones out I've allowed one of the big kids in to play undisturbed.

[AmyKidsCo]

What if you do the opposite and have the children who want to play with small pieces inside the octagon and the 12 mo old and children who aren't playing with small pieces outside it?

[ColorfulSunburst]

I have two infants (13mo and 14mo) among ten of 2-4.5yo kids. The all 12 can play with whatever they want, but before to take some other toy they must clean up a previous one. We teach the littles to act the same and the all oldest kids also help clean up after the little two. Yes, it takes a time to teach them.
The oldest one already starts to clean up by our word request.

[Indoorvoice]

Even if he is the only one? I feel bad that he would be in that area alone. He would still be in the same room and be able to talk and interact with the children (his are would be less than two feet from the nearest rug). Using a play yard would certainly help both groups during free play.

My own baby is the only one in there right now. She is 6 months and seems to enjoy it a lot. She can still see the big kids and "talk" to them and they come interact with her frequently. She has lots to do in there... Mirror, scarves, boxes, balls, and metal measuring cups. I don't even feel bad. She's safe with her toys and the big kids can do as they please without accidentally hurting her. There is plenty of room for her to roll around. It's really a win for all of us.

[Baby Beluga]

What if you do the opposite and have the children who want to play with small pieces inside the octagon and the 12 mo old and children who aren't playing with small pieces outside it?

Another poster suggested this and I like the idea. The octagon play yard isn't big enough for the three older ones. But I found a metal one that is much larger and think I am going to order that and return the octagon play yard.

I have two infants (13mo and 14mo) among ten of 2-4.5yo kids. The all 12 can play with whatever they want, but before to take some other toy they must clean up a previous one. We teach the littles to act the same and the all oldest kids also help clean up after the little two. Yes, it takes a time to teach them.
The oldest one already starts to clean up by our word request.

I like this and it is what I would like to happen. I'm super worried about the mouthing though. I could be sitting right next to him, look at another child and he could put something small in his mouth and choke. Out of curiosity do your 13 and 14 month children mouth everything? How did you break them of this habit? If they do, do their parents tell them to take it out of their mouth? Mine doesn't. And from a parent perspective I can get it. Littles mouth, it's normal so why would mom think to tell him to take it out? And while it is a normal behavior for a 12 month old it isn't a safe behavior when the older ones want to bring out the small manipulatives.

[Blackcat31]

I do like AmyKidsCo suggested and have the kids that are engaging in activities with smaller pieces or that need space to "set up" play in a separate area.

I also separate the infants/toddlers for a portion of the day so I don't think you should feel bad about him being gated off from the other kids if you have an equal mix of large group (where everyone participates) activities and small group activities (where baby is blocked from accessing others)

If he is within sight, its a nice way for him to watch and learn too...

Either way I think as long as he has equal time with and without the others you are good.