Children can be messy – very messy. When you have a child in your home, it is absolutely common to see crayon drawings on the walls, toys scattered everywhere – the remnants of playtime. Investing in a proper playroom is key for early development. Children need safe spaces where they can play and learn. It is important to have nurturing spaces like these in the home. We’ve compiled some helpful tips and tricks that may help you when designing the perfect playroom. No matter how small or big your space is, it should contain the essentials! 

First, remember, you are designing for your child and not for yourself.  Choose your child’s favorite paint colors for the walls. Or even, create a mural with them. This can be a fun activity that you and your child can cherish for years to come. If you child likes superheroes – display posters of Superman, Captain Marvel, Spiderman – along the walls. If your child likes unicorns, then create a palette of pastels to paint the room with. You can even go shopping with your child. Designing the playroom should be an activity for both of you. 

Second, now, let’s talk about organizing. The biggest feature of the playroom should be storage. Design spaces for storage all throughout the room, whether this is a shelf space for toys or a storage bin. It is great to invest in dual-purpose items such as chairs or stools that double as storage bins. You can try to incorporate storage spaces into the design of the room as well. Make your bins colored! The point is: have a place for everything. You wouldn’t want to step on a lego block randomly! There are several cheap storage supply places in the Metro such as Japan Home, SM Department store, or even the sale racks at furniture stores and warehouses. If you have to budget to splurge, then you can 

Third, remember that your playroom needs to grow with your child. Don’t design a playroom for an infant and expect it to remain the same. You need to design a playroom that grows with your child. So, even if those baby ornaments are cute, they might not be the best investment in the long run. Design something with purpose that is also functional. When your toddler grows a bit older, they wouldn’t want it to feel like a baby’s room. 

Fourth, remember to “Child-proof” the room. New moms know how full of energy children can be. You must keep in mind: no sharp edges, no heavy things on the top shelf, no high ladders. It might be good to invest in a carpet or a rubber mat. For sharp edges, you can buy foam adhesives in Ace Hardware or Home Depot, or perhaps, you can create you own foam adhesive with some tape and cut out foam. 

Fifth, have a drawing wall. Children like to draw on walls. This is a basic fact of life. Give a child a Crayola set, and they will give you a mural when you are not looking. You can tape cartolina on the walls or even invest in a blackboard or white board. This simple step send a big message to your child. It teaches them designation or even responsibility: there is a place for everything. More importantly, this keeps your walls looking brand new – which is perhaps the biggest benefit by far. 

Sixth, remember to fully utilize the space. Every nook and cranny must have a purpose, but remember to a lot some space for actual play. You do not want your child bumping into any organizing kits or chairs.

Seventh, take into consideration having company. Play dates and and chair for adults are important. While your child should always be the foremost and most important person you design for, he or she is not the only person that may use the room. Bean bags may be a fun addition to your room or the colorful chairs and lego tables. A cheaper alternative would just be colorful pillows that dual as something to sit on or even, maybe build a fort with. 

Not everyone has the means to invest in a whole playroom, but this does not mean that investing in a play space is any less important to young parents. In this world of iPads and technology, children’s creativity and attention spans are compromised. Now, I know this may be a never ending debate for parents, but studies remain. While your child does become more a visual learner, studies show that attention spans have been declining through the years as gadget penetration in households have gone up. 

Building a fort, killing an imaginary dragon, a tea party with stuff toys are key building blocks in earlier life. Playtime is an important part of the day because not only does it teach creativity, but it can teach social skills and locomotive skills as well. For example, the gesture of sharing can be taught during playtime. 

All in all, playtime is such an important part of the day. It is more important than ever that children are able to have spaces to grow and play while their young.