No space is marginal, no corner unimportant, and each space needs to be alive, flexible, and open to change.
– Cadwell

Stepping on Legos, overstuffed cupboards, paint splashes and masterpieces on the walls, and snack crumbs all over the place. It’s like a regular day in a household with a child. As far as magical thinking goes, it takes longer to put things back from where they came from.

For over a year, parents who have been stuck at home have most likely been overwhelmed by the constant mess. What’s more, is the incessant task of cleaning by afer their children (toddlers and kids) who are home bound to a larger extent.

Creating spaces that are carefully planned to support infants’ and toddlers’ well-being and engagement can beter offer them a nurturing, supportive environment for their learning and development. These beautiful and inspiring projects of space consideration can turn into stunning experiences with positive, nurturing, and responsive adults.

Serve & Return

Children strive the most, especially toddlers and infants, when they are allowed to explore their own ideas in a safe space, with responsive adults who allow them to create their identity. They need consistent open and responsive communication to discuss the ideas of children like a game of tennis. The rhythm of communication improves the quality of learning.

Individualizing kids’ spaces and your spaces together act as an opportunistic means to an end by using the environment to meet the holistic needs of children. The basics to be reflected upon before we deep dive into different areas are that we must ensure a few things:

• The health and safety aspect of our imaginations in real-time;
• Improvement children’s learning through engaging and appropriate experiences;
• To support the development of positive relationships through meaningful interactions;
• Be responsive towards the individual needs of children.

Colors of warmth, cool colors, earthen colors, neutral and pastel shades are mood lifers and generate more positive energy in the space. Managing colors is the perfect way to soothe and energize a space. The right combination makes it a happy place where kids can concentrate and relax. Diving the house or room into different designated areas can help organize age-appropriate challenges.

A carefully planned space gives parents and children opportunities to freely explore than just monitoring.

My Reading Nook

Early childhood is the best time to encourage reading interest and habit. You could create a cozy reading corner for you and your child. An inviting and alluring space where they can read on their own and accommodate adults for comfortable storytime. Keep a variety of books (hard, sof, musical). Place the books in a way that is accessible to children, say a basket or a low, stable shelf. The dreamland of words and characters is beter enjoyed in comfort, add sof colorful matresses and pillows to the area. Use a teepee tent and charm it up, build a fort, light it up bright!

Garden Of Surprises

Hey, Green Thumbs, Order Up! Everyone loves their own garden in the backyard or the kitchen. It represents purity, happiness, and growth. Create a space, no mater how big or small, to grow plants – plant them, water and nurture them, and take care of them. Set up a cart of gardening tools that kids can use as well. Real play or pretend play Growing parts of your own food and consuming it encourages children to be more connected and inclusive of the community. Extend this theme to a cafe or restaurant table or space, and let their needs of nurturing be explored, one serving at a time. A bench to be served coffee on, tables their own size, their cutlery to pretend to serve delicious meals in. Utilize this space to talk about important information for families such as a board for the ‘Menu of the Day’, a list of pictorial recipes that toddlers can follow, an easy bake oven. Allow the environment to display and support your interests as a family and welcomes you to breathe in the fresh air.

The Baker’s Table or The Chef’s Kitchen

Food has more to do with our soul, beyond our stomachs. It nourishes us, opens an opportunity for kids to feel confident and proud about the process of cooking, serving, and taking on the responsibility of happiness through their creation. Seting up a mini kitchenete space with ingredients, containers, utensils, baking tools, interactive placemats, pretend food, fun jars and visual cues can be a yummy idea indeed. Smell the cookies, and broths and pizzas fresh out of the oven. This space can be a small section of your kitchen or dining area as well. Place a mat or atractive carpet to define a section for the theme. Ensure that the seating is comfortable, whether on the floor or at a height. You could have a photo display board on the wall display the photographs of the dishes they make and share it with pride!

The Dreamy Den

Every kid’s room is a den of their own! Involve your children to create the elements of the space they retreat to, their real comfort zone within their room. This space expresses the individuality of the child the most, it could be their quiet corner where they process their thoughts, or a gameplay Lego zone, or a space for their playdates. Decide a general theme for the bedroom with different aspects like a tunnel, a blanket fort, sleepy zone compatible with their bedtime routine.

A photo wall filled with family photographs, kids doing different things, happy moments, their most important interests, or toys can add an interactive element to the room and serves as a feel-good factor for children. A place like a stand or a corner for their stuffed toys to be put to bed, kids can put the animals or vehicles to sleep and snooze away themselves. A room reflects the mood and impacts it too, a cute graffiti of a baby bear flying an airplane, a wallpaper with colorful cars, a chalkboard wall to scribble and doodle, or a magnetic board to stick things, bright-colored geometric paterns, quirky headboard.

Quirky beds are great, interesting and with endless ideas, however, it’s tough to change a specifically designed bed. Try changing the headboard or the additional elements in the room like the wallpapers for their cupboards. Furniture elements such as bunk beds, bean bags, and pillows.

Magical Makeover

A mini-makeover space or wardrobe station to actually dress up or actually be able to get ready. Space acts as a dressing area for kids to choose their clothes and wear their shoes. Parents can ensure that all aspects of dressing up are a part of their routine in the space. Kids can transform into characters and engage in storytelling. They can try new hairstyles and understand their sense of style, they can choose their footwear, and accessories, to formulate their personalities.

A mini closet game, that allows them to organize their wardrobe. Clearly labeled bins, clothes segregated according to colors, shapes, and sizes of clothes, accessories, themes in a whole new way! The excitement of the project and transforming into superhero characters to make organization fun can indulge their whims and fancies!

Memories & Gratitude Corner

A trip down memory lane is always exciting. As a part of your bonding time, revisit old photographs and albums together, from when the kids were younger and the albums from before. Talk about the happy times, experiences, adventures, and holidays you’ve been on in the past. A legit family tree with names and photographs makes for a great element to know the family. Use the photographs to share the journey as a story and express gratitude for the healthy times. Revisit this space regularly, preferably daily to share some thoughts and to share gratitude for the blessings. Memory boxes, walls, boards, and a gratitude book to stick stickers in can be some creative ways to bring a smile to you and your child’s face during these stressful times. Create a craf journal, paste stickers, photos, and display your creativity to discuss all the things that make you grateful, be it things, food, people, thoughts!

Your home should tell the story of who you are, & be a collection of what you love.
– Nate Berkus