Children are driven to play. Early childhood educators even say that play is a child’s work.



But why is play so important?  And is one play space better than another?  Maria Montessori, a doctor and pioneer educator, offers some insightful comments about children’s play and their play environment.  She believes that children have a drive for positive interactions with their environment.  In her philosophy, play meets a basic human instinct for exploration. It is a basic instinct of human beings to master their environments in order to feel safe and secure.  Consistent with this idea, early childhood educators today call play a child’s work because research has shown that playful exploration finishes and shapes the brain.  Meeting this primal need for exploration and security also generates visible joy in squeals, laughs, and shouts of “I did it” in children[1]

 
To best facilitate exploration and the joys associated with it, a child’s play space requires thoughtfulness on a parent’s part.  The overarching goal to keep in mind is, “Does my child’s indoor play space provide the tools that will allow him to feel empowered and joyful?”  Consider the following tips as you think about creating or redesigning your child’s indoor play space:[2]

• A clearly defined play space helps a child focus.  This play space does not need to be a room set apart.  Consider setting up a play space in the corner of a room and even a second one in the kitchen.  An open space where your child can see you and siblings or friends is best, so keep shelving low. The ability to see your child at play will ensure she is kept safe.
• Consider the lighting in the area.  Good lighting without glare and shadows is important for spaces where a child will be attending to details such as “reading” and doing puzzles or art projects.
• Consider a variety of play materials to encourage multiple types of exploration and development.  For example:  Blocks or Legos for construction.  Plastic dishes and dress up clothes for dramatic play.  Puzzles and lacing beads for solitary play.  Drums and shakers for musical play.
• Maintain a variety of skill levels of toys too.  If you provide puzzles with knobs for toddlers, set out a simple, knobless one too, so your child can challenge himself when ready.  Younger children engage in meaningful play with realistic dramatic play objects like dishes and phones.  Later, they will feel more open to non-realistic play objects like scarves and cardboard tubes.  So keep some of both available and look for the day when she opens herself to less realistic props.
• Gather materials that incorporate diversity so that your child develops a sense that everyone belongs.  Look for books with disabled children as characters, dolls with differing skin tones, and instruments from various cultures.
• You need to strike a balance when considering rotating or introducing new toys.  First, you want to keep the play space interesting; at the same time, you need to preserve some stability.  Especially at the holidays, you might have the urge to clear the shelves and put out all new toys.  Instead, think about how to work them in gradually to keep the play space interesting and yet familiar.
• Keeping the play space organized is crucial, but you shouldn’t feel alone in keeping it neat.  Store smaller and like objects in plastic tubs and label them.  A picture from the toy’s packaging or an actual piece of the toy can be glued to the bins to allow your child to clean up easily.  Montessori play spaces offer some good ideas.  Make a clean up area in the play space.  Hang a hand broom and dust pan in the play space from a string at the end of a table or shelf.  Similarly, provide a feather duster near the hand broom.  Using these tools, show your child how to care for and take pride in his space.
• Another Montessori method of helping children to focus and remain organized in play is to provide a small rug for a workspace.  Get several soft, woven rugs (approximately 2’x3’), roll them up, and keep them standing on end in a box or basket.  Encourage your child to roll one of these rugs out on the floor and play on top of it.  The rug is not to sit on; rather it is to do the activity on.  The defined space allows for concentration, keeps other children from intruding, and defines what needs to be cleaned up.

Creating an excellent indoor play space does not need to be a major undertaking or expensive.  More than rearranging furniture and purchasing, you need to thoughtfully consider what your child’s needs for exploration are.  As you probably already realize, quality toys that are thoughtful organized are more important than a quantity of toys.

References:
[1] Lillard, P.P. (1996). Montessori Today: A comprehensive approach to education from birth to adulthood. New York: Schocken Books.
[2] Doctoroff, S. (2001). Adapting the physical environment of meet the needs of all young children for play. Early Childhood Special Education. 29 (2). 105-109.

By Anne Oxenreider

You may also be interested in...

• Toys for toddlers
• Here is a shapshot of the types of toys your toddler will enjoy.
• more

• Outdoor play learning opportunities for toddlers
• The great outdoors are full of learning opportunities. Take advantage of your backyard and beyond to have fun and learn.
• more