Toy Room

We made the decision of setting up a room just for the toys and have the children sleep in the same room (although at this stage G is bedsharing with us). We thought that for one it will help keep the rest of the house clean and two it will be a good place to set up games/projects that dont have to be taken down. As well as being a great place to display art work. Its proving to be a great place to just hang out as a family and A is kept busy with lots to do.

I am still setting it up and we dont have it like we want it yet. But the plan is to do it in a Montessori inspired way. I want to have 'stations' where the same kind of toys are all together. So you would have all the musical instruments together, art supplies, building materials, puzzles, nature etc. Now I by no means intend to follow through on Montessori principles and expect each station to be used independently from the next. I do however like the idea of A & G being able to find everything in its rightful place and for things to have a category. I guess thats just how my brain works. If however A wants to build a city with his blocks and then use his pretend play animals to live in that city while using the pens and crayons as trees than the more power to him. :-)
The one thing that we will be keeping separate are the instruments though. A & G will have full access to the instruments when ever they feel the need to make music, they will be expected to pack them away when they are finished though. To me an instrument is more than a toy and deserves respect due to its delicate nature. Not only do the cost a lot of money but they can lose condition and tone through neglect. I still want music to be fun, but with the respect that it deserves. I feel the same way about books. All of A's books are in his bedroom on a book shelf or next to his bed which he reads when he is falling asleep. Ever since he was very little he has been allowed full access to his books but they have never been allowed to be used as toys (of course baby board books are a bit different).

So, yes still more to do. I want to build shelves and get some more boxes and containers to keep everything. At the moment most of the toys are in the ottoman all just thrown in there, and of course they never get played with because you cant find things. I also would love to set up an art room where art work can be left to come back to.