How to Play – the Perfect Playroom Created

After the sweet bliss of preparing the nursery in its soft hues or bright colours, we get to hold our baby and enjoy the sweet scent, sleepless nights, and first smiles.

Before long, babies show signs of what is instinctual to them – play. Then the fun begins!​

​Buying, sharing, borrowing, storing, and planning – all in the name of play. Educational, eco-friendly, open ended, fun and colourful - there’s a lot to be decided where play is concerned. And that doesn’t even include organising!

Bringing nature in

Nature play is essential to early education. It increases awareness of the natural environment, encourages sensory play, improves mental and physical health, and the ability to overcome challenges. Unfortunately, we aren’t always able to play outside!

An effortless way to bring nature into your playroom is through décor. Here are some ideas for bringing nature in:

• Light the playroom with as much natural light as possible
• Fill tables and baskets with a collection of interesting natural objects
• Fill jars with natural items and place on a display shelf
• Decorate with nature-based artwork like these from inkandivyprints

Toys

Whether you have many or just a few, a minimalist approach is always best – and children will get the most enjoyment.
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​Take the opportunity where possible to let family members and friends know what toys or materials you need or prefer. That way, you’re not inundated with things that don’t align with your values or your children’s interests.

If you haven’t already, start checking out local op shops! It’s amazing what you can find with a whole lot of life left. Keep your mind open – look in all sections – the kitchenware is always a favourite – DIY tea sets everywhere!

Eco Toys

As we all know, babies like to explore. Part of that exploration includes touch and taste. With babies and toddlers often putting toys in their mouths, it’s very important to think about what those toys are made of.

Toys made from eco-friendly materials can give us piece of mind when it comes to our little one’s play.
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Look for eco baby toys made of sustainable and non-toxic materials. There are numerous online stores such as:

• Rainbow Fun
• Little Earth Nest
• Honeybee
• Entropy

And don’t forget to support local. Many boutique baby and toy stores stock eco friendly toys!

Open ended toys

Open ended toys encourage imagination and creativity. Often, the simpler a toy is the more play time, and varied experience, a child will receive.

Some wonderful open ended toys are:

• Play scarves like those from Papiyon, Honeybee and AmyBabyToys or 
• Sustainable wooden block sets from Little Sprout
• Fun fruit and vegetable sets from Little Earth Nest ​

Rugs

Rugs are a great way to introduce warmth and character to a playroom, and to create a perfect spot to sit on the floor with your little one to play.

Styles made from artificial materials can be tempting, but there are a few things to think about.

Synthetic fibres like polypropylene, nylon, and polyester come with various down-sides from a health perspective.
Natural fibres are often stronger (meaning many more years of enjoyment for the both of you!), and are more appealing, environmentally friendly, and inviting.

There are a lot of options when it comes to natural rugs. Wool, organic cotton, jute – here are a few of my favourites.

• oh happy home’s rugs are washable, making cleaning a breeze, and come in a variety of bright and neutral patters colours, and even shapes! 
• Organic cotton playmats make for a beautiful gift
• Munkchin & Bear are very popular playmates for Australian childcare centres and homes. They’re bright, fun, and non-toxic.

Fostering independence

There’s nothing more enjoyable than playing with your little one, but studies have shown that our children thrive from some independent play.

Children who have gained confidence in their own company are better at making friends, solving problems, have more self-confidence, and are able to keep themselves entertained while their parents attend to other tasks.

Placing a variety of items and allowing your child to choose what to play with (and how!), can foster independence.

Variety

Having a variety of toys and activities available for your child to choose from can help develop decision making skills. It can also result in diverse types of play every day.

​For constant variety, keep several different toys on hand, and rotate items on a regular basis.

Craft

 A craft corner is a favourite with many children. Work out what craft items you would like to include.  Creating a craft corner offers endless possibilities; from DIY sensory activities, to painting and drawing; there is almost unlimited potential for inspiring creativity in your child. 

Organising

​​Organisation is the key when it comes to a play room. Even organised play spaces get messy from time to time, but that’s the joy of them.

When everything has its place, its much easy to keep toys tidy, keep track of what you have, and keep toys to a minimum.

​Keep items stored neatly. Place a few out on a set of shelves, tables, or play mat, ready to go for the day. It will save you time on cleaning up too!

​Do you have a favourite playroom tip? Share it with me below.

Our craft essential blog will help you create an organised craft space!

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