There's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how much space your child needs to play and learn effectively.
That should come as a relief to many as it's not always an option to set aside a whole rumpus room, den or basement room for your kids to play in. Rather than size, what's much more important is the environment itself.
So with this in mind, we wanted to share with you some general guidelines to ensure that your child has enough room to explore, grow, and develop properly.
Step 1: Find a Welcoming Space
Kids, like anyone, prefer to be safe, warm and dry [at least most of the time].
Setting up a place for your child needs to be comfortable and welcoming. If they're going to spend a lot of time there, enjoying themselves, then they'll need to not be combating with the space in any way.
Here are some basic tips for creating a space that's conducive to play and learning:
- Make sure there's plenty of natural light and ventilation.
- Keep the space tidy and clutter-free.
- Choose furniture that's comfortable and safe for your child to use.
No one knows your kids like you do. You will know what will make them comfortable and happy. You know how best to inspire them to play and learn.
Step 2: Add a load of Books and other Toys
Now you've got the space ready you need to fill it with everything that will inspire your little one to focus and play - and some other small bits and pieces that you want to introduce to your child.
Include a variety of toys and materials that encourage exploration, creativity, and imagination. These might include:
- Books, particularly books they can read or flick through themselves
- Blocks of various sizes, shapes, and colors
- Puzzles
- Dolls and dollhouses
- Toy cars and trucks
- Musical instruments
- Construction toys
Think about your child's interests and abilities when selecting materials. Choose items that are developmentally appropriate for your child's age and stage. It's important to provide a range of toys and activities but not so many that your child won't be able to focus on one activity at a time.
Optional: A Place for Artistic Expression
While it's not essential to also provide a space and materials for your child if they love their art then setting up a space for them to express their artistic side can be wonderful. This might include:
- A chalkboard or whiteboard and markers
- Coloring books and crayons
- Paints, paintbrushes, and paper
- Clay and modeling dough
- Construction paper, scissors, glue, and glitter
Again, it's important to consider your child's age and abilities when putting together an art space. Importantly, it should inspire the child to experiment, create and try new things.
We at Meland have a recommendation: fuse beads. This set lets your little one easily (and with minimal mess) create wonderful pixel art to decorate their space with pride.
Though that's not to say that some messy play isn't an ideal activity to set up in your kids space. Many parents choose to do this outdoors so that their little ones can make as much mess as they like without having to worry about the clean-up!
Optional: Get Some Fresh Air and Exercise
Don't feel like you need to set up you space indoors, or that it needs to be permanent.
A temporary outdoor area, if adequately set up, is great space for your little one to safely enjoy some fresh air and burn off some of that seemingly endless energy.
Be sure to take along a few outdoor toys; balls and bats or bubbles for instance.
On a sunny day, a nice little tent can provide some welcome shade too, and also adds to the fun and adventure.
Some outdoor imaginative play is a great way to introduce your young one to the fun of the outdoors, perhaps a pretend "camping" trip to help your young get confidence before going on the real thing with mommy and daddy.
Of course, every family and child is different and you'll need to use your own judgement when it comes to setting up a play space for your child.
Make the most of the space you have available and be sure it works for the whole family, not just your child. Just remember that the most important thing is to create an environment that's welcoming, stimulating, and above all else, fun!