Alfred Adler once said play is a child’s work and this is not a trivial pursuit. Indeed, play is an important stage of a child’s development when the child begins to be aware of his/her surroundings, as well as developscognitive, problem-solving and imaginative skills.
Every home should incorporate a play space for a child that is safe, fun, colourful and inspirational. Here are 6 essential things that you should consider when planning a playroom or play area for your children.
1) Count your Dollars and Cents
Deciding how much to set aside for your child’s play is very much a personal decision. And one that you should come to terms with early on in the project, so that it lays the expectations for the designer and helps with other smaller decisions that you’ll need to make along the way.
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2) Keep Safety First
Since a playroom would likely be the place where your kids spend most of their waking hours in, it is important to make sure everything is childproof. Of course, this does not mean that design has to be compromised during the process.
Alex Yang from Quirky Haus advises, “When we talk about a playroom for kids, nothing is more important than child safety. We need to make sure that the playroom has a design that attracts the child, entices them to stay in it, without compromising on safety. This means eliminating sharp edges of custom carpentry or shelves and cabinets, and ensuring the height of the furnishings is appropriate for the child.”
HDB 5 Room – Dawson Place by Design 4 Space Pte Ltd
3) Consider the space and storage required
As Vester Chia from Love Home points out, one of the most important things you have to consider is the layout of the room. Space planning is the most important factor. There must be sufficient space for storage and space for activity.
In terms of storage, you can consider a mixture of built-in storage and ready-made shelves and cabinets that are accessible and within the reach of your child. Shelves that can accommodate both books and toy boxes usually work best to keep clutter at bay.
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4) Consider child’s age and siblings
Paul Chang from Beaux Monde advises parents to think 3 to 4 years beyond the child’s current age and then plan according to that age. He explained that it will help us to design and create a room that will remain relevant to the child’s needs in the longer term.
Also if your child has siblings, then it makes sense to plan for areas where they can interact together, and share the space. Ask questions like, “What can they do together?” or “What would each one like?” and then think about how you can combine those interests within the same space.
Ah Soo Garden by Darwin Interior
5) Consider your child’s interests / preferences
Does your child like to draw, or is she a budding bookworm? Knowing your child’s interests and natural inclinations will help you identify important elements that you want to include in the playroom, such as:
– bookshelves
– toy shelves
– activity table
– reading corner / chair
– stationery and craft supplies
Double Bay Residence by The Local INN.terior
Your play space should ideally be able to grow with your child and still be relevant 5-6 years down the road, with minimal updates. So don’t go for that cutesy fire engine bed, instead think about designs that will not go out of style such as a well-made bookshelf, a wooden toy house, and a slightly larger study table that would still come in handy when your child enters formal schooling.
Now that you know what the important considerations are, go ahead, let your imagination run free, and create that dream play space that even you as a adult would love to spend time playing with your child.