When designing spaces for our clients, toddler rooms are the most neglected. Other than colour combinations and fancy accessories, most of our clients prefer to either defer the design of this room or neglect key areas.
However, according to research, assigning and designing a space for indoor play for toddlers is very important in home design. These are crucial years for brain development through play. Ages 1-5 is when your toddler goes through the highest leaps in social, emotional, cognitive, linguistic, and motor development. In today’s world of apartments and high-rises, toddlers must have a reasonable amount of indoor space to play in. This post hopes to give homeowners a few ideas to develop special toddler play areas in their homes.
Size does matter, but even a small space can be put to work effectively!
There’s no denying that a large, open space for uninhibited running around is ideal – but let’s get real. In an apartment, this is next to impossible. So, let’s work within the confines of a standard room, say 10 x 12 feet.
Keep furniture to a minimum
A toddler doesn’t need a large bed or a fancy writing desk. A tiny bed and a small multi-use table for nibbling on snacks or doodling are more than enough. Allow only for a functional, space-saving wardrobe and toy storage, so that maximum floor space is available. And especially, make sure that there are no sharp corners where your toddler could hurt herself.
Colours
Most of the room should be decorated in a light and fun colour – pastels work very well. Light blue, for instance, enhances creativity but brighter shades of blue, if used too prominently, can have the opposite effect. Bright colours should either be restricted to one wall, or to accessories such as furnishings and curtains. Never overwhelm a room with a bright colour. Besides making the room appear smaller, it can also overly stimulate your child’s senses.
Watch the bacteria!
Bacteria are everywhere. The more urbanized one’s dwelling is, the more bacteria live on its walls and floors, according to popular research. Floors get mopped regularly and while toys and playthings can be disinfected often, our walls are often neglected. Children love touching and drawing on walls and when they do so they get infected by bacteria.
Parents need to be aware that the presence of harmful bacteria can cause breathing problems and ailments like coughing. It is always good to use safe microbicidal products on our living surfaces. Luckily, we have been able to recommend paints such as Royale Health Shield by Asian Paints to young and growing families. It effectively kills 99%# of bacteria that come in contact with surfaces it is painted on. This is the first-ever paint in India with Silver Ion technology* that comes recommended by the Indian Medical Association. It’s also practical for toddler rooms because it purifies the air and has an effective stain shield.
Incorporate vertical play options
When you keep the floor space accessible with less furniture, that doesn’t mean you make your toddler’s space boring. A good way to incorporate activity and exercise is by having fun vertical installations such as wall pegs or rope ladders that toddlers can climb on or with safely and develop their motor skills.
Make the growing years simple and beautiful for your toddlers, providing them with lots of stimuli. A clean, fun, and safe environment is optimal for ensuring a high Happiness Quotient for your growing toddler!
- # Royale Health Shield with Silver Ion technology, within 2 hours of exposure kills 99% bacteria on walls Refer to ‘Antibacterial Silver’, 1994, School of Chemistry & App Chemistry, the University of Wales by Julia Clement & Penelope Jarrett.
- * Fomite Infections (bacteria) can spread through infected walls among other indoor surfaces in homes and office
Talking about toddlers, have you checked this lovely off the floor, on the wall Christmas tree idea on our blog that is perfect for homes with toddlers?
