Set Up Help

[GotKids]

You guys have such wonderful set ups I was hoping you could help me figure out where to move things the flow of my 2 playrooms feels so disjointed I can't seem to find a set up I really like. I took a bunch of pictures so you could see where everything is now. I am contemplating moving the block area from the secondary playroom and use it to help section off the literacy area where the puppet stand currently lives.

Take a look and let me know what suggestions you have. I have ordered a few things that I need to make room for as well. I could also use suggestions for a science area.

The link to the current set up
https://picasaweb.google.com/1026254...eat=directlink
What I need to make room for :
http://www.1stoplighting.com/lightin...FVJntgodAQgSxA

for the reading area
http://www.cymax.com/0-Guidecraft-Re...FaNeTAodnXD31Q
http://www.wayfair.com/Guidecraft-Ca...id=FR49-EZ1089

Thank you

[GotKids]

I am hoping to put the art center where that school bus is and use the wall above it so I can display the art

[Sugar Magnolia]

Looks like a good set up already. The bus is kind of large... Just a thought, but I would keep blocks away from reading zone, blocks are loud and may disturb those looking for a quiet activity with books. You have lots of space to work with....try new placement of stuff.until it feels right.

[GotKids]

Very good points, thank you. I am not sure what I am going to do with the bus. It is very large and was a lot of fun when I didn't have much of the other toys. I am aiming to have more centers in the playrooms and I am afraid it is just not fitting anymore.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Is the bus wood or plastic? If it is plastic, could it go outside? Your block center is the same thing I use for cubbies! I love those! I really like your set up! I have a fireplace also, I have it covered up though with a large dry erase/magnet board. But I am a center and the fire marshall made me do that, but I like it like that. Not much use for a fireplace in FL anyways, but its a historic home and looked cool.

[cheerfuldom]

have you looked over past threads with photo/setups of playrooms?

[Sugar Magnolia]

Oh, my, that art center is expensive! But totally cool. Jealous!

[GotKids]

Thank you for the kind response. I LOVE the idea of covering the fireplace. It doesn't get used here either. I think I will work on that change. As far as the bus goes it is wood and wouldn't survive the crazy weather we have here so I might have to end up rehoming it.

[GotKids]

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

Oh, my, that art center is expensive! But totally cool. Jealous!

This is just the picture. I am not allowed to link the prices off Direct buy but it is a huge savings. Everything I am buying totals less than the art center retail price with shipping.

[GotKids]

Originally Posted by cheerfuldom

have you looked over past threads with photo/setups of playrooms?

I have looked over some which is why I hoped you guys could guide me. I can't seem to find all the other posts. I am not that best at using the search feature on here.

[countrymom]

your set up is great. The only thing I can think of is that you need some color.

[Trummynme]

I don't really have any ideas but I wanted to say I love your backyard!

[GotKids]

Originally Posted by countrymom

your set up is great. The only thing I can think of is that you need some color.

I agree I still have a long way to get it where I want but one of the first things I want to do is change the paint in the dark green room. It was that way when we moved in and it sucks the light out of the room almost completely. I also want to get more fun things for the walls but the local stores out here are so limited on the stuff they carry. Any online suggestions?

[spud912]

I really really like your set-up and all of the cool toys you have! You have a lot of good quality stuff and I wish I had the same amount of space as you!

I'm trying to visualize the set-up of your home. The eating area with high chairs is in a separate room, right? Then you have the primary play room with the puppet theater and table, then another alphabet room with the piano, then an infant room (with the pack n plays), right?

All of my suggestions below are what I would do if I owned your house (and stated without knowing dimensions):

Primary Room (with fireplace):
What do you use the wooden table for?
What do you use the table in the center of the room for (next to the puppet theater)?
I would replace the wire thing (I forgot what they are called...sorry for my ignorance!) with the bus if there was room. If not, I would re-home the bus.
I would put the art table where the play kitchen currently is located.
I would put your new reading stuff where the puppet theater is with the book holder in the center of the two chairs.
I would decorate this entire room with the kids art work on the walls and paint the walls with something neutral, light colored, and friendly.

Alphabet Room:
I would keep the music area as is because that is probably one of the neatest things I wish I had space for!
I would move the school bus and castle thing. In their place, I would put the puppet theater where the castle is so the kids could go to the other side to put on "shows." I would put your play kitchen between the 2 windows and put a little rug on the floor. If you had a very small table, I would put it on the rug so the kids can play "house" with the kitchen. Basically, I would make it your music and dramatic play room. I would not put the reading area in there because the music might interfere with quiet reading.
For decorations, I would generally leave it as is, but might put a framed picture (like a group shot or something) between the two windows.

Infant Room:
I would leave the set-up the same.
For decorations, I would paint the walls. The bottom half I would do a solid color and the top half I would paint vertical stripes. I would put a border strip separating the bottom and the top (something colorful and child-oriented). This will really bring out the room without having to add a lot of wall decorations. If you did want to add decorations, I would put a couple of framed pictures of the babies or daycare children and maybe a floating shelf with some extra baby books to rotate out with the ones on their level.

Sorry this is a super long response!

[GotKids]

Originally Posted by spud912

I really really like your set-up and all of the cool toys you have! You have a lot of good quality stuff and I wish I had the same amount of space as you!
Thank you so much. My husband picks on my because I spend so much of my income on buying things but it is still my first year so there is a lot I still need. I feel if I am going to do this job I want to make sure I can give the kids the best possible start I can. Wait until next year when I get him to upgrade my flooring

I'm trying to visualize the set-up of your home. The eating area with high chairs is in a separate room, right? Then you have the primary play room with the puppet theater and table, then another alphabet room with the piano, then an infant room (with the pack n plays), right?

Ok when you walk in my house to left is the dark green room with the pack and plays toddler toys and it flows into the room with the blocks, piano and bus. There is an opening there that opens to the kitchen as well.

If you enter the house and continue straight it will lead right to the area the high chairs are and the door to the back yard. Just before that area on the right is the room with the reading area, puppets, puzzles and kid kitchen.

All of my suggestions below are what I would do if I owned your house (and stated without knowing dimensions):

Primary Room (with fireplace):
What do you use the wooden table for? We do math manipulatives and language art activities like the ones on top of the fire place.
What do you use the table in the center of the room for (next to the puppet theater)? that is the lego table
I would replace the wire thing (I forgot what they are called...sorry for my ignorance!) with the bus if there was room. If not, I would re-home the bus. The bus won't fit because it is MUCH bigger, so I think you are right time to rehome.
I would put the art table where the play kitchen currently is located. That is a neat idea
I would put your new reading stuff where the puppet theater is with the book holder in the center of the two chairs. Ok
I would decorate this entire room with the kids art work on the walls and paint the walls with something neutral, light colored, and friendly. Great idea

Alphabet Room:
I would keep the music area as is because that is probably one of the neatest things I wish I had space for!
I would move the school bus and castle thing. In their place, I would put the puppet theater where the castle is so the kids could go to the other side to put on "shows." I would put your play kitchen between the 2 windows and put a little rug on the floor. If you had a very small table, I would put it on the rug so the kids can play "house" with the kitchen. Basically, I would make it your music and dramatic play room. I would not put the reading area in there because the music might interfere with quiet reading.
For decorations, I would generally leave it as is, but might put a framed picture (like a group shot or something) between the two windows.

That would really help with the flow Thank you

Infant Room:
I would leave the set-up the same.
For decorations, I would paint the walls. The bottom half I would do a solid color and the top half I would paint vertical stripes. I would put a border strip separating the bottom and the top (something colorful and child-oriented). This will really bring out the room without having to add a lot of wall decorations. If you did want to add decorations, I would put a couple of framed pictures of the babies or daycare children and maybe a floating shelf with some extra baby books to rotate out with the ones on their level.

Sorry this is a super long response!

Thank you your suggestions were AWESOME!

[mariagarcia495]

My house has 3 separate rooms for my daycare, including an infant room, "imagination room", and eating room. The kids absolutely love the imagination room. I painted the walls a solid color with an accent sponge on one side, and every month the kids do a handprint on that side. For the other side of the wall I bought a bunch of wall decals from a site called WallPops. I change the wall decals once every few months, and so far have been able to reuse them as long as I take them off correctly.