elklaker What are their interests? When my kids were that age they loved to put on shows and when I see that back area with the door, I see curtains hung to create a "stage". Fun, bright colors, storage, cozy rug, bean bags chairs. Let them help and do the designing. Kids are crazy creative!
ASVInteriors First of all, create a "dirty area" for them where they can paint, splash and use handicrafts without you having to worry. This might mean laying something as cost-effective as linoleum to tile.
Paint one wall with chalkboard paint and another with magnetic paint so they can write/draw etc in an authorized place and you can hang their pictures up on the other. Low tables and chairs are great.
The rest of the area should be run around - for games, building, shows etc etc. A like elklaker's ideas as well they allow imagination to run wild!
eztia I enjoy designing spaces for children! I have selected about one dozen photos from Houzz PHOTOS, Kids, "playrooms" for you. There are more than 16,000 photos in this category.
I worked in preschools and elementary schools for over 20 years. I do not think it is good to breathe chalk dust. I also do not like to vacuum it up, or wash it out of the clothes... I would keep chalk outside.
Low shelves are the easiest for children to manage. If you use bins, label them and/or put a photo of the item on the outside of the bin. This also helps babysitters and relatives when they come to play with/mind the children.
If your girls are active, consider wrestling mats, swings, and balance equipment (squishy pads) from a pediatric occupational therapy supply catalog.
If you have one girl who is quieter than the others, or who gets too excited and needs a space to settle for a little while, a tent or other "separate" space is welcomed. This is NOT a space to be used for "time-out."
I can attach four photos at one time. I am sorry they do not enlarge on this post.
lisag0701 Thanks!! Love the stage/theater ideas and the quiet reading spot. Love the magentic paint idea also.
My girls are constantly twirling and jumping so mats are a perfect idea!!
Paint one wall with chalkboard paint and another with magnetic paint so they can write/draw etc in an authorized place and you can hang their pictures up on the other. Low tables and chairs are great.
The rest of the area should be run around - for games, building, shows etc etc. A like elklaker's ideas as well they allow imagination to run wild!
I worked in preschools and elementary schools for over 20 years. I do not think it is good to breathe chalk dust. I also do not like to vacuum it up, or wash it out of the clothes... I would keep chalk outside.
Low shelves are the easiest for children to manage. If you use bins, label them and/or put a photo of the item on the outside of the bin. This also helps babysitters and relatives when they come to play with/mind the children.
If your girls are active, consider wrestling mats, swings, and balance equipment (squishy pads) from a pediatric occupational therapy supply catalog.
If you have one girl who is quieter than the others, or who gets too excited and needs a space to settle for a little while, a tent or other "separate" space is welcomed. This is NOT a space to be used for "time-out."
I can attach four photos at one time. I am sorry they do not enlarge on this post.
My girls are constantly twirling and jumping so mats are a perfect idea!!