So, we have a play room that seems to be stuffed with almost every toy imaginable but l have noticed my ODD (almost 5.75 years) hasn't been up there in a long time and when I have told her to go and play in there the last few times she has told me that it is boring and there are only baby toys in there. I guess if I think about it, I haven't really bought anything to put in there for 18 months or so, so I guess it is possible that my ODD has grown out of what we have. But, I am at a loss of what exactly to purchase for her that is more interesting. We also have an arts and crafts room, which she spends a lot of time in, but there are times I'd like her to play in the play room, too (ie when I've just spent a lot of time cleaning up the arts and crafts room and don't want it to be destroyed again immediately, lol!). So, I'm looking for good suggestions for "bigger kid" toys suitable for a play room.
Here is what we already have:
Kitchen with play food
Lots of dress ups
Duplos (ODD never touches them)
Train table
Blocks (wooden and mega blocks)
Musical instruments
mini trampoline
Dolls house with full complement of dolls and furniture (ODD has played with it maybe 3 times in the 3 years we've had it)
Tunnels, tent, balls and scarves
Puzzles ranging from toddler level up to 50 pieces
shopping cart
pretend vacuum cleaner
a few assorted trucks and cars
Tons of Little People stuff
I would say that sounds like a dream preschool room, but not so much for 5 and up. We don't have a play room unfortunately, but a friend of mine does and this is what she has:
- great chairs (bean bag etc...) for curling up and reading in
- privacy area set up with a low screen for private time
- gym mat area for practicing gymnastics, with a cd player for just dancing around
- arts and craft area
I feel the same way - We finished our basement in preparation to sell it and DD (almost 6) never want to go down there. We won't be able to finish our new basement anytime soon but it is open and clean enough that I plan on setting it up like a playroom and will encourage the kids to play down there.
Potential ideas:
-Puzzles with more than 50 pieces
-Barbies, play horses
-Non-baby dolls
-Hula hoops, jumpropes (my DD loves to do those inside)
DD has been asking me for beanbag chairs since we finished the basement - we have a kids size table and chairs down there (mainly to have it out of the living room for staging) but she said she wants something comfy to sit on - I was tempted by the PBK chairs, but if she wants beanbags I guess I'll get those.
Sometimes I feel that maybe there is TOO much down there so I may weed it out some (but like you, I need the toys also for younger kids) or put some up in their new rooms or the family room. But I also feel that sometimes she really just wants to be near me which is why I planb on having more toys on the main living floor or make it easier for them to bring them upstairs.
ETA: After reading Pine Tree's response, I remembered I am getting DD a karioke machine probably for her birthday. And she's getting a speaker for her room to plug our ipod into. Doesn't the arts and crafts have to be separate - DD likes to cut and glue things as part of playing with her toys - ie making pillows and blankets for barbies, so we like to have those accessible.
Does she share a room with her sister? Maybe it is time for space that is her own.
Last edited by jesseybell; 06-29-2012 at 10:45 AM.
My big kids never play with toys. The thing that they play with the most are pillows. We have some huge floor pillows that are constantly in play. Bean bags would also be awesome. No, I take that back, the thing they've played with the absolute most is a foam fold out couch (Kind of like this). They fold it out and do flips on the mat it makes. They fold it part of the way up and make it into a spaceship. It is light so they can flip it over and make it into a tunnel or a cave. Highly recommend.
Megan and Derek: 6/15/02, Dean: 6/27/05, Reed: 10/3/07, Ruby: 11/21/11 My determined purpose is that I may know Him.
PineTree - You have it spot on. My younger two who are 3 love the playroom but my older one is definitely over it. We also have another play space that we call the "reading room". Currently there isn't really much in there, a few puzzles and some books but no furniture. I think your idea of bean bags, more books (and on a lower book shelf), a stereo system and a gym mat is perfect for that room. ODD is always trying to practice her gymnastics in inappropriate places, maybe if I could get a gym mat in the reading room she could go up there for that.
jessey - Our arts and crafts room is on our first floor, just off the kitchen. It has built in shelves, a fridge and a sink and a hardwood floor versus the play room which is on the 3rd floor and has carpet. I like the arts and crafts being off the kitchen because often they need a little help when they do art and it is right there where I'm cooking etc. Also, spills and mess are inevitable and the hardwood is so much more appropriate for that than carpet. ODD has her own bedroom. We have a "system" here where "bedroom" toys are personal toys that don't need to be shared and playroom/art room/reading room toys/supplies are for sharing. DD has several board games, play mobile stuff, my little ponies, dolls etc in her bedroom that she doesn't need to share but if I'm totally honest she very rarely plays with any of those, either. Maybe she's just not a "toy" kid.
Megande - Your link didn't work but a soft gym mat sounds like a great idea, so if that can be both a mat and a chair it would be useful. I'll google it. Edited to add that the link works now!
These are great ideas but I still think I'd like to find some "toy" toys that could interest DD and entertain her up there.
My kids are 6.5 and 8 and they mostly play with Legos. I would say 90% of their time is spent with Legos, especially my 6.5yo DS. I've been able to weed out a TON of other things that they have outgrown. My 8yo DD really enjoys playing with her American Girl dolls and their accessories, especially when her friends come over.
She might just not be a toy kid - my DD has never been a huge fan of toys. She and her best friend are both like that. When her friend is over, they pack bags and pretend to go on a trip, put backpacks on and pretend they are taking the bus to school and then in school, pretend they are dogs and cats, etc. Neither of them really wants to just play with toys. If DD does have to play by herself, she likes Barbies, Playmobile, My Little Pony, etc. but still would prefer to play all that with someone else. Being told to go to her toy room to play by herself is, to her, the worst punishment in the world.
The toys do sound young, even for your twins. My kiddos were done with LP by age 2 or so. Honestly my ODS is 7 and hasn't been hugely into toys since your DD's age. He still plays with cars, but he's mostly into reading, art, his DS, the Wii, etc. The kitchen and legos still get some use, but computer time is what really holds his interest these days.
Perhaps a pretend "school" area? My DD1 loves to play pretend school - with her sister, her friends, herself. Perhaps a chalkboard area, desk, other stuff that could be used for that. I know that might be very kid-dependent but just a suggestion!
Love the idea of making the reading room a gymnastics practice room. My DDs are always trying to do gymnastics in inappropriate places, too!
Big Kid Play Room Toys
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