Our Environment - AK

HOW IT ALL STARTED....

I always knew I wanted to create a great space for my son and teach him to navigate it safely, just as I did with my students when I was a Reggio teacher.  When we moved to NC, I was ecstatic to have an extra room dedicated to play and learning.  His playroom has really evolved and continues to as his needs and interests change.  Here is how it all began, the changes made, and where we are today.  Hope you enjoy!

In the beginning we had his play room set up in the smallest room in the house...

PLAY ROOM 2010


 
Just getting started




Then we added some cubby shelves.  This was how I first organized his materials.  Notice our light panel tucked nicely to the side of the shelves....a "space" for it had yet to evolve.

 magnet board

 Materials on top of book shelf...reading nook on the other side with felt board and felt board accessories



I would hang a white sheet on the wall for play with the overhead projector

 This was the set up in the smaller room....play room 2010


We soon decided that since his bed room was only used for sleep, that it would make sense to move his play room into the bigger room and have his bedroom in the smaller one.

PLAY ROOM 2011


I took a lot of inspiration for my playroom and all of its accessories from being a teacher in a Reggio inspired school for 3 of my 14 years of teaching - my classroom looked a lot like this.  The whole philosophy behind the environment is to make the space inspiring - a place where a child will enter and WANT to explore.  Its also about having all materials (typically from the natural environment or recycled items) readily accessible to the child.  The walls and furniture are usually neutral (hence my tan walls) to encourage the focus on the beauty of the creations and materials in the room.  Most of these materials are used in all kinds of child-guided imaginative play.  There are no "rules" (as long as nothing is getting ruined) and messes are embraced as learning experiences.  That being said, my son does appreciate the order.  Believe it or not, we have many days where we dont even go into this room - but when we do, oh the places we go!!
ENJOY!

-AK
(MESE, MECD)

Just coming together

 

Another one where we were just getting started...art corner, light table area coming together, etc

 

 Still pulling together all the loose ends

Play room NOW (November 2011)

This is a view of the play room from the entryway.  The white thing hanging is a shower curtain liner that we use for the overhead projector.  Its removable, so its not always hanging there.

 

How it looks today
(I put a water proof blanket under the art table to protect the floor....its not a rug.)

These baskets are actually planters (I found them at the dollar store).  They are full of various items - wood pieces, sticks, pine cones, acorns, etc. 

These are my 2 year old son's toys.  Most of them are toys you build with, such as Tinker Toys, Citiblocs, Blocks, Snap Blocks, etc

This is a magnet board built by my husband - framed sheet metal.  I LOVE this piece.  I used a shoe organizer from target to organize all of the items that are magnetic - as well as two baskets.   

This area is for dress up/imaginary play (its a work in progress).  A mirror, two puppets, and a basket full of animal masks.

This is a felt board I made.  I just bought a piece of felt and one of the thick poster board sheets, used some spray adhesive and a hot glue gun, and wrapped it.  Again, you see the shoe organizer to organize felt board accessories.

 

 Light table area

close-up of light table accessories

Peg board mounted on the back of the book shelf with materials on acrylic shelves and in acrylic cups

 This is on top of he book shelf.  Mirror, rocks, agate slices, paint tray, play doh tray, CD player

 The art corner has changed recently.  I have known I wanted to change it for some time now...probably a YEAR!  I wanted something where my son could physically take a container to the table with him, instead of pulling materials out of a pocket.  Just as a reminder, this is what it was BEFORE...

 

BEFORE

 The only new items are the paint cans and hooks that hold the scissors

OUR OUTDOOR SPACE

 Easel THEN

 Easel NOW

 Smaller Sensory table THEN

 

Taller sensory table NOW

These are our outdoor supplies.  I had to put them in something that closes because we have strong winds here...but he has full access to the materials.

This is our swing.  It was initially in the playroom but the swinging range is greater in the garage (more fun).  We wanted it to be inside because of the extreme hot and cold temperatures here. We have several attachments to this.  We have the swing you see here, a trapeze bar, a regular swing, a climbing rope, and a sensory swing that Daddy built.

DIY See Saw


PLAYROOM 2012

My playroom is always changing as my son grows, his interests change, and I notice that things would be more functional set up another way.  Its 2012 and our playroom just got a paint makeover.  I'm also making a few changes here and there.  This is what we have so far, but stay tuned.

I added a curtain rod in the art area and used shower curtain hook to hang buckets full of materials.  I moved the paper holder over and put the scissors just above it.

New refreshing blue paint color.

I expanded the "dramatic play" area a bit.  It now has his Dr kit, his "suitcase", his astronaut costume, and basket of masks/puppets.

I took down the clear shoe organizer strip and bought small pails from Michaels for his magnets.  Being able to dump out the pieces makes it easier for him to find what he is looking for.

I took down the felt board and added shelves for his Playmobil.  I find that he plays with it more when its out like this....and the felt board wasn't getting much use anymore (though its still in the closet and he brings it out from time to time).

I expanded the mirrors across the entire back wall.  LOVE!

close up of paint cans in art area

2012 PLAYROOM

I have made a few changes to the art area.  My son is really into building and figuring out how things work, so Im trying to make his art corner more inviting to him.

Wood pieces, plastic pieces, screws, nails, drill, screw driver, hammer.

- AK 

(MESE, MECD)