When my son turned seven months, things changed drastically. He started getting mobile and keeping him safe as he explored the house became my wife’s new exercise routine. It was a little frustrating because my wife and I would have to run around him all day, picking things out the way lest he hurt himself.
Playdates with my friend’s kids were worse. Either the moms would have to be confined with the kids, or the dads would have to take over.
We needed a solution. We had to find a way to get together and have everyone enjoy the time, kids and parents alike.
Kids are natural explorers, and your home is a discovery zone no matter the size. You can’t change that, and you can’t change your little one either. Disciplining your child for knocking things over won’t work either. He will knock over something else in the next ten minutes.
The good news is, you aren’t doomed to following your kid around and hovering over them like a helicopter. It’s frustrating when you have to do it, and you end up doing nothing else in the chores. At the end of the day, the house looks like a tornado passed through!
So how can you make it work?
How to create a safe playing space
Choose a location
The more you follow your little munchkin around, the more you realize that you need to set you a safe playing area for them. You need a place your little one can be busy as you prepare their food, clean the house and shoot that urgent email.
Choose a room that doesn’t have an exterior door, and one close to where you work from. Most people tend to work from the kitchen most of the times, which makes the dining area the perfect position.
You can look at what your little one is doing while you busy yourself with other things. Another alternative would be a living room, especially if your home is an open floor plan. If you can’t designate a whole room, clear a corner in one room and turn it into your child’s safe area.
Baby proof the room
We started baby proofing the house immediately we brought our little champ home, but you can start at whatever age you see fit. You need to ensure your designated area is safe for your baby. They will spend a lot of time playing unsupervised, which makes it vital to keep them safe.
- If you are using your living room, mount your TV on the wall and make sure it’s sturdy. TV stands can fall on your child as they try to climb up.
- Your photo frames are great, but when your baby knocks them over and breaks a glass, they become dangerous.
- Candles and matches should be out of sight. Toddlers can accidentally light a match and start a fire. They could also chew the candle wax and choke.
- Your fireplace should be covered. Buy and install pads for the edges as well a heat resistance gate to keep your little one from accessing the fireplace.
- Cover your power strips to prevent your little one from unplugging cords. They could also push metal objects like spoons into the power strip and electrocute themselves.
- Keep remote controls out of the way and watch out for buttons. Kids can choke on them or bite exposed batteries poisoning themselves.
A smart trick is to install brass cleats next to windows blind cords. When you roll up the blinds, you can wrap the cord around the cleat which shortens it and prevents potentially strangulation hazard.
Clean everything out of the cabinets in your child’s safe area and lock the doors. This will prevent your little munchkin form accessing the cabinets and locking themselves inside.
Since you won’t always be in the room watching them, install a baby monitor and listen in on what they are up to. You can even install cameras and watch them as you work in another room.
Make things interesting with toys
Kids are fascinated by toys and enjoy playing as they discover new sounds, textures and shapes. But before you get all their toys in place, install interlocking tile mats that your little one can sit on. They are comfortable and easy to clean, which makes them perfect for toddler mess. Add some blankets and pillows to keep things cozy and add to the comfort your little one needs not to hurt themselves in case they lose their balance and topple over.
It might help to add a child gate if your room has no door, but if you have met kids, you know how easily they can squeeze through small spaces and escape. However, it is a necessary safety precaution to install one.
Make sure your toys are appropriate for your little one’s age. Small plastic toys can cause accidents and hurt your child if they fall on them. Soft stuffed animals are a safer option for younger kids.
Does your little one enjoy coloring? Be careful with the crayons. While they can safely use them under your watchful eye, they can quickly become a choking hazard. Even little ones can easily break the crayons and have small chewable pieces.
Throw in a few books and prepare your little one for reading time. Add floor cushions, a soft mat and soft toy boxes to store everything after a day’s play. Kids love music as much as adults do. Add some music and play your little ones favorite tune.
How to keep your little one in their play area
If your child is used to having your around, they might protest the first time you leave them alone in their play area. Kids are naturally attached to their parents and will want to have you around, so they have a playmate.
With so much work to do in the house, this is not possible. When will you get house chores done if you play with them all day?
1. Spend time in the play area
This does not give you a leeway to keep making the play area an isolation place. If your child learns that whenever they are in the play area they are by themselves, they will loathe it. Treat it as a special space where you and your baby can relax and a place your child can play freely.
If they associate it with fun, they are likely to retreat there, even by themselves. Your baby will not protest when you leave them to play by themselves and will instead be happy to explore their space.
2. Don’t direct their play
Spending time with your baby is great, but if you spend too much time entertaining your them, they will find it strange when you leave them to play independently.
Let your child take the lead, observe and give feedback when they look at you. This will help them develop independence quickly and reduce the number of times they protect when you leave them. Independent play has mental, social, and creative benefits for your child. Don’t be afraid to step back from play and observe them instead of directing them.
3. Treat their play with respect
Pay attention to what your child is drawn to. Sometimes, it doesn’t look like kids are doing much when they concentrate on a block. Instead of trying to get them to play with their other toys, give your little one time and space to do what they like. This will encourage them to be motivated in their play and allow them content play.
Also, avoid interrupting them when they are engrossed in play. Don’t swoop in to pick your child up just because you have decided it’s time tom eat, change nappy, sleep, or go out. This teaches your little on to be distracted easily and eventually lessens the value your child places on independent play.
Instead, observe them first before you call out their name. Wait for them to break concentration and use it as a cue to interrupt. Alternatively, be patient and wait for them to engage with you through a look, action, or words.
If they are old enough, give them a timeline of how soon activities will change. For younger kids, wait five minutes before you change their nappy or feed them.
4. Separate screen time and playtime
In the world we live in, screen-time is vital for the 21st-century life. However, passive watching discourages active play. Have screen available in a different room so your little one can concentrate on active play when they are in their play space.
Kids will be kids, and its best to accept that a few spoons, pans and pots will end up on the floor eventually. Keep your lower kitchen cabinets stocked with tossable items your kids can use to keep themselves busy on those rare days they refuse to use their play space. However, with the tips we have given, your little one will enjoy spending time in their play area and without roaming into other rooms. Upgrading their toys to age-appropriate items will come in handy as they grow and their interests change.