Comments on: Create A Play Area That Fits http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/2009/10/create-a-play-area-that-fits/ Simple Happiness Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:59:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Emily Geizer http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/2009/10/create-a-play-area-that-fits/#comment-873 Emily Geizer Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:24:28 +0000 http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/?p=90#comment-873 I find with kids and toys, less is more! This was abundantly clear in my years as a preschool teacher and still today with my two daughters. We rotate often and keep everything at eye-level for the kids. They can use all of their things and put them away independently. I think this helps them enjoy their free play time more. It's their time that they really get to own. And we all know kids need more of that unstructured play time! I find with kids and toys, less is more! This was abundantly clear in my years as a preschool teacher and still today with my two daughters.

We rotate often and keep everything at eye-level for the kids. They can use all of their things and put them away independently. I think this helps them enjoy their free play time more. It’s their time that they really get to own. And we all know kids need more of that unstructured play time!

]]> By: Bas van der Zanden http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/2009/10/create-a-play-area-that-fits/#comment-275 Bas van der Zanden Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:04:38 +0000 http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/?p=90#comment-275 Our kids are now 2 and 5 years old. When it comes to birthdays we have a good idea; there are always presents that are expensive. We can't afford to buy them. Together with other familymembers (grandparents, sisters etc.) we togethet buy the present. This makes that they get one or two toys instead of many. A funny one; when people ask what to buy, we say that everything is alright, but with the restriction that it's smaller than a milkjug. Our kids are now 2 and 5 years old. When it comes to birthdays we have a good idea; there are always presents that are expensive. We can’t afford to buy them. Together with other familymembers (grandparents, sisters etc.) we togethet buy the present. This makes that they get one or two toys instead of many.
A funny one; when people ask what to buy, we say that everything is alright, but with the restriction that it’s smaller than a milkjug.

]]> By: hevb http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/2009/10/create-a-play-area-that-fits/#comment-84 hevb Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:10:41 +0000 http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/?p=90#comment-84 yes this is great one of my close friends often puts toys away and swaps them about every so often and the kids faces look like christmas day when she fetches out a new batch on swap round day. yes this is great one of my close friends often puts toys away and swaps them about every so often and the kids faces look like christmas day when she fetches out a new batch on swap round day.

]]> By: Cammy http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/2009/10/create-a-play-area-that-fits/#comment-69 Cammy Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:07:51 +0000 http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/?p=90#comment-69 This is an excellent list. My husband and I are in the process of sprucing up our sunroom as a playroom for our 10 month old son. He is small enough that he just wants to be by Mum and Dad, but we want to give him space to roll around and "just be." I am all about an inviting space with limited toys. If there's one thing I've learned about kids, it's that they can have hours of fun with cardboard boxes as opposed to a toy that serves just one purpose. This is an excellent list. My husband and I are in the process of sprucing up our sunroom as a playroom for our 10 month old son. He is small enough that he just wants to be by Mum and Dad, but we want to give him space to roll around and “just be.” I am all about an inviting space with limited toys. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about kids, it’s that they can have hours of fun with cardboard boxes as opposed to a toy that serves just one purpose.

]]> By: Sherri Kruger http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/2009/10/create-a-play-area-that-fits/#comment-43 Sherri Kruger Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:49:11 +0000 http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/?p=90#comment-43 @Holly - In true Zen Habits style less is certainly more when it comes to toys. My son gets the same way when he see an old toy for the first time again. It's pretty neat. @ Zengirl - Great I hope you find some of these helpful :) @Holly – In true Zen Habits style less is certainly more when it comes to toys. My son gets the same way when he see an old toy for the first time again. It’s pretty neat.

@ Zengirl – Great I hope you find some of these helpful :)

]]> By: Zengirl http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/2009/10/create-a-play-area-that-fits/#comment-41 Zengirl Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:38:18 +0000 http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/?p=90#comment-41 Sherri, Good suggestions! Having 2 young ones (4 yrs and 7 months) I already do some of these tips already but always can use more ideas. Sherri,

Good suggestions! Having 2 young ones (4 yrs and 7 months) I already do some of these tips already but always can use more ideas.

]]> By: Holly @ mummyzen.com http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/2009/10/create-a-play-area-that-fits/#comment-38 Holly @ mummyzen.com Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:14:43 +0000 http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/?p=90#comment-38 Your suggestion of rotating the toys is something that works really well with our son too (he's just under one). He gets really excited and has a renewed enthusiasm for something he was playing with a couple of months ago. Like you, we have a dedicated play area and by not having all his toys out at once we can keep the space less cluttered and provide him with more space to explore. Your suggestion of rotating the toys is something that works really well with our son too (he’s just under one). He gets really excited and has a renewed enthusiasm for something he was playing with a couple of months ago. Like you, we have a dedicated play area and by not having all his toys out at once we can keep the space less cluttered and provide him with more space to explore.

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