A Positive & Safe Play Area for a Child

If you're moving to a new home or just trying to reorganize your home to make it more child-friendly, you might wonder how to create a place for your little one to play without having your entire home taken over by board books and wooden blocks. Sectioning off part of your home for a play area for your child is not difficult. It just takes a bit of planning.

  1. Section off an Area

    • Whether you have an entire room to dedicate to being a play area, or you just have an alcove or corner of the living room, section the area off from the rest of the house. Either use a baby gate in the doorway to keep kids and toys inside, or buy a bigger play yard that you can use to create a small room within a room for your child to play. The key is that you want the play area to be both safe and contained, while at the same time in easy viewing distance so you can keep an eye on your child while she plays.

    Childproof

    • Next it's time to make the area safe. According to KidsHealth, it's a good idea to install outlet covers on unused outlets and keep all sharp or toxic materials out of the play area. Put bumpers on the corners of any tables in the play area to avoid bumps and bruises. If any windows with blinds are nearby, ensure that the cords are short and cut so that no loop is at the bottom for kids to get tangled up in.

    Surfaces

    • A play area for a baby or younger toddler should have a variety of surfaces, if possible, explains Bright Futures, a national health promotion website at Georgetown University. For example, have an area that is carpeted and an area that has smooth surfaces such as a wood or linoleum floor. That way, youngsters can practice walking and crawling on different surfaces.

    Filling the Play Area

    • All toys and items in your play area should be brightly colored and age-appropriate. For instance, don't put toys designed for preschoolers in a play area meant for toddlers because those toys could be a choking hazard for little ones. Consider putting toys in different plastic containers so kids can have the fun of pouring them out and also help clean up easily. Fill the area with board books or picture books, if your child is old enough not to rip the pages. For toddlers and preschoolers, consider having a dress-up area so kids can wear fancy dresses or old Halloween costumes. Dolls and stuffed animals are also a nice addition to your child's play area.

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