Playroom Ideas for Toddlers

Maintaining a dedicated space for your children to play in is ideal for keeping toys out of the dining room and off the staircase. When creating your child's playroom, include ideas that foster creativity and encourage learning but also keep it fun. Include your children in the design process to ensure the playroom is a place they will enjoy as much as you. Does this Spark an idea?

Organization

Organization in the playroom is essential. Storage cubes with fabric pull-out drawers are an effective way to keep things organized and manageable for small children. Large storage bins and tubs can be difficult for children to maneuver, making upkeep challenging. Stackable cubes and crates can also be easily added or removed as needed. The organization of the overall room layout is also important. Creating smaller play areas or vignettes within the room will help keep things organized and eliminate the chaos of a room that is basically a playtime free-for-all. You can use small area rugs in different colors to separate the dress-up or play kitchen area from the reading area.

Activity table

An activity table provides an excellent focal point in a child's playroom, as it provides an impetus for your child to expound upon his imagination and creativity. This is where your child can draw, paint, color and work on other craft projects, or play with play dough. If you can't find an activity table you like, you can easily build your own, using storage cubes for the legs and bolting a round or square tabletop surface for the top. Any finished board will suffice for the top of your table. You can paint it any color or you can paint it with dry-erase board spray paint to create an erasable canvas for your child to draw on with dry-erase markers. Using storage cubes as table legs will provide storage for construction paper, markers, crayons and other craft supplies.

Reading nook

A reading nook is a must-have for any child's playroom. Reading encourages learning, stimulates the mind and provides an opportunity for parents to engage with their child. A reading nook can be created in the corner of any playroom simply by filling a small bookcase with all your child's favorite books and flashcards and then adding floor cushions or beanbag chairs for you and your child to relax during story time.

Exercise

Try to incorporate an area in your child's playroom that promotes physical exercise. Though your child already will be moving from one playroom vignette to another, but providing activities that require physical involvement will encourage good health and will also help burn off all that excess energy that toddlers and young children are prone too. Plastic bowling or basketball sets, made for indoor use, are some options.

Wall decor

There are many ways to create unique wall decor in your child's playroom. This is also an ideal opportunity to let your child pick out the paint colors. Of course, you may have to veto your child's decision for hot pink walls, but you can find a way to incorporate their favorite colors through accent colors on switch plates or other places. You can also use a projector to trace your child's favorite cartoon character on the wall before painting it on. Chair railing comprised of cork is great for kids to hang their artwork around the room. Add educational posters that help kids learn basic reading and math skills. Educational supply stores are great places to find these items. Large print maps will also help your child learn geography while playing.