https://www.bin-store.com/blog

Wouldn’t it be ideal if your child had his or her own play room? Unfortunately, urban life being what it is, not all of us live in spaces large enough to accommodate one. Your child’s bedroom may not even be very large, which may encourage him or her to spread out to your living room. When that happens, you end up with a combined space that is serving as both living room and playroom. It can be a difficult compromise, and the more toy soldiers pile up on your coffee table and under foot, the more it can start to feel like a conquest.

It is possible to create a multifunctional living space, but functional really is the key word here, and it all comes down to the layout you choose and the rules you set up. Right now, with your child’s toys strewn everywhere, your living room isn’t all that functional. But it can be, if you contain your child’s playthings and activities in a certain part of the room. Here are some suggestions for how to create a play area in the living room:

• Try using the walls. If you have an open wall space (it does not even have to be a big one), you can use chalkboard or whiteboard paint to create a surface a child can draw on. This encourages creativity and will also draw your child to that area of the room.

• Choose a corner of the room to use as a play area. Keep in mind that older children may need slightly more space than younger children. You will have an easier time encouraging children to stay in this space if you block it off partially. Organize your living room furniture in such a way that children can easily identify the play zone. Bring a small bookcase for children’s books or a small play table and set it up.

• Set up a few plastic bins for toys. These are easy even for smaller children to use to put away their toys, and encourages children to do so. If more than one child will use the same play area, consider using colored bins and labeling them with your children’s names. This will help your children to keep their toys separate and avoid quarreling.

• Ask for suggestions. Ask your children to let you know what they would want in a play area. If they are co-creators of the space, they will become more attached to it and will be happier with the result.

It may take a while for children to get used to a play zone in the living room, but making the effort to create an indoor play area can be well worth it. Your child may even appreciate the effort. While it can be tricky to convince a child to keep his or her toys in one area of the house, many children are territorial and enjoy a sense that something is “theirs.” If you can make the play area feel like your child’s own special place, you will probably have success. Then the rest of your living room can stay clutter-free, and everyone in the family can enjoy the living space!