Refreshing Children's Spaces
Are you and your family feeling it? Perhaps it's just a small ebbing sense of being shut in or full-blown cabin fever? Either way taking the call to social distance seriously comes with some drawbacks. Being confined to smaller spaces can be hard on young bodies (and let’s be honest, on all of us). However, it can be the breeding ground for creativity. A jumping-off point to reimagine the spaces you and your child coexist in.
In early childhood education, teachers often talk about the classroom itself being a teacher. They recognize that the spaces children inhabit, and the materials presented to them, affect how they will learn. Now, more than ever, the rooms in our home are bearing equal if not more weight for their daily effect on us.
This may be the time to take fresh eyes and approach your space differently. Simple shifts in your child’s environment can provide an opportunity for them to engage with the same things in a new way.
Let’s start with environmental cues...
Our environment sends us cues that influence our behavior. Cues that can either directly strengthen or weaken our goals. Ask yourself what your goal is for every space in your home. What would you like to see occur in these different zones? If that is to overwhelming focus in on the ones your child frequents the most (think bedroom and playroom).
Grab a piece of paper and something to draw with. Perhaps one of those crayons that seem to find their way into every nook and cranny of your life? Make a simple drawing of the room layout. Nobody is winning any awards here. It’s okay if it looks like your child drew it, we won’t tell. Just get something on paper and go from there. Yes, your proportions will be wrong. But you will get an idea for where you want things to go before you start moving them.
Some simple zone suggestions start with focusing on a quiet space for regulation and reprieve (or study for older children), a louder area for big body play, a creative space, and an imaginative play area. Decide where you would like each one of these things to take place. This doesn’t have to be separate rooms, different corners of one room can represent a zone. However, defining the space is key. This can be done by laying down a small rug and positioning a bookshelf in a way that acts as a barrier. Or putting a small table near the kitchen sink with craft supplies readily available.
Get down on their level...
As you are considering these goals get down to the same eye level your child is currently at and look around. What do you see? These are the things they are taking in daily. How much are they having to visually process every time they enter the space? If it looks chaotic to you, then it feels chaotic to them.
Our children are even more sensitive to their surroundings than we are. Here are some things to reflect on as you take it in:
It’s a common misconception that children’s spaces need to be bright and colorful. Yes, children are attracted to brightly colored things, but they often can’t rest or dive deep into their learning processes when overstimulated. Consider neutral colors to calm the space. This allows the color focal point to be your child and the things they are either creating or playing with.
Softer elements absorb noise. When planning for quieter and more contemplative areas think about positioning pillows, soft toys, and blankets in and around it.
Knowing how your child plays is a huge part of designing their space. Observe their interests and plan your zone’s accordingly.
Soften the edges of the room. Round edges are easier for our eyes to take in and process.
How can you bring nature to them? With limited interaction out of doors these days our minds need the cortisol reducing benefits nature brings us. Kits for growing plants or herbs at home can be ordered online. And even artificial plants can produce a restorative response.
Finally, peel back on the toys, consider stashing some away and exploring only a few at a time. Give your child mental and physical space to explore.
Is it working?
This is a process. Remember that children are always evolving and shifting. What works this week may not work the next. One zone may meet their interests and needs while others fall short. This is okay. Get the kids involved in the process. Celebrate the time to collaborate. And remember to take on a designer's motto: “Let’s try it a new way.”
Click HERE to watch Tessa talk about Children’s Spaces.