Don’t know what to do with that extra room in your home? If you have little ones, a playroom reaps big rewards. In addition to a host of other benefits, a colorful, kid-friendly space can help children preparing for preschool make a smoother transition. If you’re looking for fun and functional ideas for kids’ playroom decor, take advantage of these 10 tips.
1. Stretch the Imagination
Children love pretending. Encourage role play with a small puppet theater, and hang colorful costumes — from police officer to princess — on wall hooks. Don’t forget to mount a large mirror for extra giggles.
2. Spark Creativity
Challenge children to get creative with a child-sized table and lots of art supplies. Think paint, paper, modeling clay, markers, colored pencils, bits of fabric, glue, scissors, and more.
3. Inspire Future Builders
Table or floor — kids don’t care where they stack, connect, and construct; they just enjoy the process. Keep busy builders happy with DUPLOS, wooden blocks, Tinker Toys, Magna-Tiles, and K’Nex stored in large baskets or bins.
4. Build Self-Esteem
In addition to developing hand-eye coordination, the simple act of completing a puzzle helps build self-esteem in children. Start with a large puzzle-style play mat, and then add a collection of smaller puzzles to keep little hands and minds occupied.
5. Foster a Love of Reading
When kids need a little down time, a reading nook makes the perfect space. Decorate a corner of the room with a thick area rug, bean bag chairs, and fluffy pillows. For more fun, add a teepee or a blanket tent, and don’t forget shelving for plenty of picture books.
6. Ignite Curiosity
To ignite curiosity about the natural world, add a water or sand table to your playroom, and stock it with plastic cups, small shovels, and pint-sized pails. Further enchant budding scientists with a collection of rocks, bugs in resin, an ant farm, and a magnifying glass.
7. Accommodate Kids on the Go
When it comes to play time, certain kids almost always opt for toys that move. For these little ones, install a race-track-printed throw rug and keep small Matchbox cars on handy wall racks. Stow large dump trucks and tractors in roomy toy bins.
8. Encourage Active Play
If possible, designate an open space in your playroom for active play. Toys like mini bowling sets, hula hoops, bouncy toys, and play tunnels keep kids moving large muscles and encourage physical fitness.
9. Offer Easy Access
Playrooms should be designed with a child’s size and comfort in mind. Installing kid-sized shelves, tables, and chairs allows for easy access and optimal comfort.
10. Encourage Neatness
While they may not enjoy the process, kids feel great after they’ve cleaned up their space. To encourage preschoolers to be neat and tidy in their playroom, place photos of the proper toys on the fronts of boxes and bins.
Is your child preparing for preschool soon? Use these 10 tips to design the perfect complementary playroom. If you need furnishings for this room or other areas of your home, turn to CORT Clearance Centers for gently used chairs, tables, and more.
