What Do You Think Of This Setup?

[SunflowerMama]

So I changed things up a bit to hopefully encourage more child-centered use of toys, supplies and activities without as much direction from me. I've been open over a year and still can't find a setup that I'm totally in love with.

My main concern is the art area. I would love to have multiple supplies out for them all the time so they can create to their heart's content but I just can't find an open storage solution to make that possible. So any advice or other's pictures of their art stations would be greatly appreciated.

I also added a water station and created little activity "boxes" for my 6 section shelf that I will change out daily for them to work on different skills.

Then in my main room is my home living area and all the other activities in storage boxes on the book shelves.

What do you guys think of this layout?

[Abigail]

My only concern is that your painting station is next to a beautiful WHITE wall with your things hanging on the hooks.

I still LOVE your tree on the wall! It's just amazing and I want one!

[SunflowerMama]

My only concern is that your painting station is next to a beautiful WHITE wall with your things hanging on the hooks.

I still LOVE your tree on the wall! It's just amazing and I want one!

I know I just can't find a good place for the easel. When it's nice out I just keep it outside but otherwise I can't find a good place for it that keeps it somewhat out of the way after hours.

[Luna]

I love your colours and the way you've done your wall hangings and the back of your shelf unit It looks like a fun space to play in. Do you find the tablecloths to be a problem at all? I have better luck without them unless we're doing a tea party; the kids trip on them & the cloth doesn't stay put on the table. Do you use some sort of gripper to keep them in place?

[momofboys]

I love the tree painted on the wall! I think your set-up is very open, I like it a lot.

[countrymom]

like the layout, the only thing is the paint easle. I would be so worried that someone will paint my walls. I would just let the kids color on it.

[Little People]

I love the tree and I really like your little kitchen set

[Lilbutterflie]

I love the set up, especially the daycare room!

I have a suggestion for the easel problem... is it possible to switch places with one of the tables? If there is no other place you like the easel I would definitely make sure to remove your belongings from the hooks during painting time! About the white wall... you could try to paint the wall with a Sherwin Williams Durable Home paint. If you've never heard of this paint before... it's AMAZING! Wipes clean with water even if it's anon-washable marker. One time, a dcg got a stamp ink pad and took the liberty of decorating the playroom wall... it came right off with water!! She still got in major trouble for it, but at least it came right off. You can get any of the Sherwin Williams paint colors in the Durable Home brand, and it will run about $40-$50 per gallon. BUT almost every holiday they will have a 25 or 40% off sale, so that's when we buy it.

[melskids]

LOVE IT!

you could either tack a shower curtain on the wall to cover & keep it clean, or, if that space is big enough, i would put a bookshelf there for your art supplies. i bought $15 shelves from walmart, (see: omg i'm trying to post post pic thread) theyre not that big, so it might fit in that space behind the door. i made curtains that fit the front of the shelf (on a tension rod) to hide everything when i dont want to look at it.

[nannyde]

I see you have the Melissa and Doug kitchen.



I can't stand that toy.

It's the worst toy investment of my 17 year career.

Bought it without seeing it in person. Won't make that mistake again.

http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=41430552

[SunflowerMama]

Do you find the tablecloths to be a problem at all? I have better luck without them unless we're doing a tea party; the kids trip on them & the cloth doesn't stay put on the table. Do you use some sort of gripper to keep them in place?

Most of the time they'll stay put but if the kids start tripping or pulling them off I'll just put them away. They are usually pretty good with them though.

[SunflowerMama]

I see you have the Melissa and Doug kitchen.



I can't stand that toy.

It's the worst toy investment of my 17 year career.

Bought it without seeing it in person. Won't make that mistake again.

http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos...otoid=41430552

What don't you like about it? I've been thinking of switching it for a smaller more simple little stove ans sink setup that takes up much less room. The kids seem so so on the kitchen but do play with it quite a bit.

[Lianne]

Personally, I hate easels. They're awkward, messy, no storage space and the kids think they can walk around with a paintbrush in their hands. My suggestion is to put a small, one seater table in that space with a chair they have to sit in or their turn creating is done. Get a set of those plastic drawer units on wheels (don't use the wheels) like these http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProdu...=186&section=1 to sit on the floor beside the table. One drawer can hold crayons and markers, one can hold glue sticks and scissors, one can hold collage materials(feathers, googly eyes, foam shapes, scraps of ribbon, tissue paper, etc.), one can hold loose paper, one can hold colouring books or whatever you want them to have access to. You can change up what you want in those drawerrs like you change other areas in your room. I put a small garbage can under the table and the kids must clean up their mess before they move on or they lose the art table for the day. I won't allow my kids to have free access to paints although if they ask I'm happy to get the water colour paints down for them. The sloppier tempra paints are used at my kitchen table with me supervising.

[nannyde]

What don't you like about it? I've been thinking of switching it for a smaller more simple little stove ans sink setup that takes up much less room. The kids seem so so on the kitchen but do play with it quite a bit.

Super crappy materials: hardware, nails, boards.

[SunflowerMama]

Personally, I hate easels. They're awkward, messy, no storage space and the kids think they can walk around with a paintbrush in their hands. My suggestion is to put a small, one seater table in that space with a chair they have to sit in or their turn creating is done. Get a set of those plastic drawer units on wheels (don't use the wheels) like these http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProdu...=186&section=1 to sit on the floor beside the table. One drawer can hold crayons and markers, one can hold glue sticks and scissors, one can hold collage materials(feathers, googly eyes, foam shapes, scraps of ribbon, tissue paper, etc.), one can hold loose paper, one can hold colouring books or whatever you want them to have access to. You can change up what you want in those drawerrs like you change other areas in your room. I put a small garbage can under the table and the kids must clean up their mess before they move on or they lose the art table for the day. I won't allow my kids to have free access to paints although if they ask I'm happy to get the water colour paints down for them. The sloppier tempra paints are used at my kitchen table with me supervising.

The easel and I definitely have a love hate relationship. Getting paint on their clothes (even with a smock), dripping paint on the floor, friends looking at their pieces and leaning up against the easel and getting paint on themselves, etc. I do like the idea of the shelf unit with the drawers and saw those yesterday at Walmart and just can't decide b/w that and the smaller bookshelves like Melskids. I just don't know if having everything out for them to see what is available is best or the drawers.

I love the availability of having all those supplies available, at all times, it just gives me a heart attack sometimes thinking that the 18 month old has grabbed a marker while I wasn't looking and is holding it until that moment that I turn my back and she then goes to town on the wall, or the tv, or the couch .