Q: How can my wife and I make our 2-year-old daughter really feel like a part of our live/work space? We're blessed with a large, open space condo, so we're integrating our kitchen, dining room, living room and workspace into one big Super Room. We'd like our daughter to feel welcome in the space, like she's really a part of it. We're going to give her her own desk next to ours with a play laptop and her own pencils and crayons. Any other suggestions?
Sent by Scott
Editor: A desk of her own sounds like a great start! Readers, any ideas for Scott and his family?
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Maybe a small bookshelf or book crate in the common space? A place to display her work/art?
How about some kid-friendly yet stylish art in the main living area? I also like to have a few kid things laying around where we really use them... little animal throw-blankets on the couch, a little pile of kid books on the side table, etc.
A little table and chairs set up somewhere is a must! It can be used for snacks, crafts/arts and so much more. I put a small play-kitchen near ours so that my son could 'cook' while we were. All you need are a few little dishes and foods for her. Give her a drawer that is JUST hers too - if she hasn't already claimed her own!
You could also (depending on your space) give her a little area that mimics your larger area - a kitchen, living area etc. We were given one of those Pottery Barn Kids sofa-chairs and while $100 is a lot for a kids chair, it has REALLY held up. It works for by the tv, at the table (ikea lack $10 btw) and around the house - that would work great as her 'living room' couch.
As for art - pick a wall/surface and have it go from HER eye level to yours - she'll be thrilled to have it at her eye-line.
Have fun :)
Kids take over almost any space on their own, it seems. But having things at their height (art displays, book shelves, seating, drawers, supplies they're allowed to raid, etc.) or a step stool goes a long way. We have some floor pillows, low shelves, and accessible drawer/cupboard space for our kids to play in, but every space is different.
What is the layout of the Superroom like?
Hi everyone! Thanks for the helpful ideas! I love having eye-level artwork. We'll be sure to do that. The sofa chair is a great tip, too! It seems like a worthwhile splurge.
Our Super Room is a large rectangular room, about 30 ft. long and 20 ft. wide. In the far corner is the kitchen and dining room divided by an island. The rest of the room is open. We're converting the dining space into the work area, and moving the dining room table to the center of the room, against the wall. Lots of possibilities. We're excited to make it "our" space!
we have the same kind of living set up. In the kitchen area we have a small shelf, this originally had everything my son needed to make his own snacks. His cutlery and placemat etc were also kept here so that he could set his own place at the table. Once he got bigger and could reach the adult areas we changed the shelf into an art station. In the living room he has a kids sized desk and chair next to the computer desk, we got it from Ikea and the small chair matches the bench chairs we have.
We also have a small bookcase, we tend to keep encyclopeadias and other non fiction books on it, most of his story books are upstairs.
In the hall we have a coat rack which is child sized. We also have some of his painting framed and on the walls and the side cupboard we use to display things, sometimes it is a nature shelf, sometimes it will be something he made. We try to keep it to one or two focus items rather than crazy clutter.