Play Zones

• Children are visual creatures. They adapt to an area better when they can scan it quickly to see what it's all about. Dividing your playroom into separate zones encourages kids to jump into the specified activity without pause. To zone a room, use different colors of paint on the walls for different areas, such as reading, creative play, building and crafts. Other zone dividers that work well are area rugs or large wall signs with pictures of the activities to be done in each zone.
  
  Place some cute throw pillows in the reading corner with a basket or shelf of books and a small table in the craft area with a basket of paper and crayons and other supplies.
  
  

Organization

• A creatively designed playroom does a child no good if it's too messy. Designing your playroom with easy-to-access bins helps teach children how to clean up after themselves. Keep large open bins within your child's reach. Don't get too detailed with which items go in which bins. Keep organization simple; have a large container for large toys and a small container for small toys or separate them by color.
  
  You don't have to purchase expensive toy boxes for this purpose. Simple brightly colored plastic storage bins will do the job. Discard the lids and use non-toxic paint to designate which toys belong in which container. You can also buy chalkboard paint and roll some on the side of the box. Then use colored chalk to designate a color or type of toy.
  
  

Decorations

• Use the creative talents of your child and yourself for the theme. Install a large corkboard and pin up artwork for display. Use the chalkboard paint to designate an entire wall for chalk drawings. You can even paint imaginative scenery on the wall. You don't need to be an artist to paint a giant tree or silly animals. Make your own flowers to dress up the decor. Cut out construction-paper petals and glue them on to green pipe cleaners. Place them in a brightly painted pot filed with Styrofoam.
  
  You can also use the child's toys as decoration. Store large toys on shelves or hang stuffed animals in baskets around the room. You and your child can have as much fun decorating your playroom as you will playing in it.