Today's blog is taking the highlights from Beth Bronsil of Children's Home Space and formerly the director of Xavier University Montessori Education Program from 1978-2007. She currently helps local parents set up home space for children. For more information about her consultation and fees, click here.
High5: Ideas to Integrate into a Child's Home Space
5. Art & Music Space
Music and Art spark creativity at all ages. While most children are being introduced to these cultural activities on a regular basis, here is a list that Beth passed along, which may spark some new ideas.
ART
- Tape large pieces of paper to the driveway, paint brush, and small amount of pain in a zip lock plastic container. For young kids just use water!
- Set up an easel outside, and encourage to paint what they see
- When using paint start with one color, slowly add more. Use one paint brush for each color.
- For young children, Velcro zip lock containers to trays or shoe boxes so that they can be easily carried and to reduce mess and spills.
- Age allowing, child can learn to carry the tray to the sink and clean the containers
- Try stamps
- When using Clay & Playdoh add tools. Try the dollar store for "adult" tools.
- Chalk on black paper and driveway
- Making bracelets, necklaces & other jewelry. For young children use pipe cleaners with big beads
- Make house out of big boxes and allow children to paint them.
- Crayons & Markers - take out of the boxes and put into open containers
MUSIC
- Dance with your kids
- Simple rhythm instruments for the child to use with a song.
- Singing Nursery rhymes
- Listen to Classics for Kids program (Local station WGUC)
- Find good tapes and sing along
4. Outdoor Space
Make sure that children have extensive opportunities to get outside and explore as young as possible! Places for climbing, running, jumping, etc. Here are some ideas Beth had:
- Kites
- Bird feeders
- Chalk
- Water activities
- Sand Box
- Bottles of bubbles and misc wands
- Children's garden tools
3. Balance of Family Space
The home is the first social environment that children learn in. Life is being modeled to them first and foremost here. While each family and nanny may have there own method of creating that environment, I think that we can all agree that the home should be inclusive of the children's lives but not the dominating factor. In the past, I (Greta) have worked in homes that have been to each extreme. On one end you have the home that until you get to the child's bedroom you would not even know a CHILD lived there! Toys were barely permitted out of the bedroom and in this situation the TV was relied upon greatly as entertainment. Although this was a very tidy, beautiful, home, it was to the determent of the child. On the other end I have worked in a few homes that you wonder "Are there any ADULTS living here?" In my opinion (for what it's worth), I encourage a healthy balance between the two...Children should have there own space! Parents should have there own space! There should be shared family space! [Sidenote: Young children will take over many rooms as the little bodies need constant attention!] OK I am off my soap box now and will share some ideas from Beth about "Shared Family Space". Essentially these rooms should say "this is your room too, you are welcome here" to all members of the family. These rooms are: family room, kitchen, shared bathrooms, etc.
- Baskets of books
- Toy cabinet or shelf in a family room with limited amount of toys. A place where there things belong but can be changed out. Space is the same, toys change.
- Small chairs
- Low table with chairs
- Low cupboard for snacks/breakfast that they child can prepare themselves as encouraged by the parent/nanny (when age appropriate).
- Stools for assistance in reaching
- Soap and towels in reach
- Low hooks for coats, backpacks, etc.
- Storage/location for shoes, boots, etc.
2. Child's Space
It is important for children to have their space. As they grow in age and maturity they will learn how to be more independent and responsible for their space. They should have a place to retreat, to think, to rest, to play. Just as an adult may go into a bedroom to nap, read or take a bubble bath, a child can benefit from the same type of space. In that space it is important to look around making sure that the area is catering to their need and age. Can they reach the clothes they are to dress themselves in? Is there hamper that they can open and empty? While creating that child space, get on their level and test. As they mature, give them more opportunities in that space. While at some ages paint would remain high in a cabinet for monitored use only, at an older age that paint may be an artistic child's release in there personal space. With children sharing rooms and spaces, my opinion is to have spaces that are reserved just for them. If they have a toy that is currently very special to them, give them a safe haven to protect that - a shelf, or cubby even. Some examples of a Child's space would be their own bathroom or bedroom. A play room could be an example of family and child's space as decided by the family. Here are some ideas from Beth:
BATHROOM
- Bath toys
- Small squeeze bottles
- Small hamper for clothes
- Stool for reaching the sink
- Low hooks to hang towels
BEDROOM
- Baskets for toys, stuffed animals, and books. Beth suggested baskets with handles so that they are easy to carry with you and clean up.
- Toy shelf with limited number of toys
- Floor space for play
- Bottom drawer with 2 choices of outfits - they can choose one for the day. One other idea is to have them choose it and lay out on the chair the night before, establishing good preparation habits at a young age.
- A basket for socks - encourage child to match the socks themselves
- Basket of books
1. Diversity & Grouping
Beth, being a Montessori expert, brought a few different ways of thinking about play and the environment in which they play. She encouraged limited toys, which is not a method that you see in most homes. Usually children have access to ALL their toys with exception of the ones that will make a huge mess. Throughout her whole talk she encouraged that they toys be rotated in and out, not only for age appropriateness but to bring back the excitement off an old toy and/or focus on the current interest of a child. A great example was one she gave of her grandson was when he was very interested in wood building blocks. Around the same time she took him to our local children's museum when they had a dinosaur exhibit. Seeing now his interest in both of these, she created an environment to take that interest one step further. She has a closed-in porch in which her grandson had a good amount of space to play. She put out a basket of the wooden blocks. Next to it a basket of large dinosaur figures and a dinosaur book. She initially played with him, read the book, and then let his creativity and interest lead his play. Soon later she came back to find that he had built individual rooms for each dinosaur, and he played and added to that creation for days! Children do not need lots of toys to keep them from boredom. Create a space where toys can be put away for a season, then brought back. Invest in toys that can be partnered with creativity and be played with many ways. Most importantly, look for the cues your child is giving you. The areas they show the the most interest in is like an open window to their learning. For example... if they love music, like the boys I watch, use the songs as a way to increase vocabulary and present new words. Use the music to learn rhythm. Use dancing to incorporate better motor skills. The opportunities are endless. Be specific to the kids in your care and it will make a world of difference!
The International Nanny Associations Board of Directors held it's annual fall meeting in Philadelphia, Nov. 5-6. To kick off their 25th Anniversary celebration they are pleased to announce: 
