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Make It New Again
Monday, January 09, 2012 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Just a couple of short weeks ago, there were a few moments of quiet in our house. If you have a young child, you understand why this is news. The quiet came as my little girl happily explored all the "newness" that had found its way into the toy room. The new doll, the new house, the new crayons. Yes, for those few minutes, I sat there, drank tea, and cherished the moment as she happily played.
I walked into that same room a few moments ago to find toys scattered here and there. The kiddo was no longer engaged by magical play that had all too quickly departed.
The holidays came rushing in, and we seemed to be filled with excitement as many of us shower oodles of toys and newness upon our children. Unfortunately, things quickly grow old to children. The newness seems to be gone as quickly as it came.
Where did it go? More importantly, how do we get the excitement of those toys back?
It hit me as I began to clean-up that clutter. I began to reshelve it. As she toddled along with me, she became interested as things were uncovered and were organized. What a concept - play being inspired by organization of a space.
When I was a teacher in a toddler room years ago, I believed that these kiddos thrived on the organization of a space. They thrived on routine. They thrived on the repeated manipulation of the same items. Day after day.
I was only partly right. I learned this after days in a room with 12 toddlers, doing anything and everything to keep them happily engaged with the few resources I had at that time.
I was right about them feeling ownership of the classroom. Does your child have a space to call their own? A safe space to enage in play? Whether it is a corner of a room or an entire room, doesn't matter.
I was right about them knowing where things were and that they belonged to them, for about a week. After that, these little kiddos were often disengaged. Quite frankly, these tykes had become bored with my organization and the day after day of seeing the same toys, used in the same ways.
Lesson learned.
Eureka! Reflecting back on my classroom experiences, I went back into our own play room and began clearing the clutter. Some things went back on the shelf. Some things were going in a basket to be put away for a week or two or three. Much like an effective early childhood classroom, I provided some order to the space, organizing dress up clothes in a corner, puzzles on a shelf, and Lincoln Logs in a bin.
As I worked, she began to play.
The toys were becoming new again.
They made more sense in the environment, and they made more sense to her.
It occurs to me that everytime I clean up the play room, it not only looks better, it works better. Bonus, I get to have another cup of tea and a few minutes to enjoy the magic of play.
As we begin the new year, how are you keeping your children engaged in play?
How are you organizing a space for your child to engage in play?
What toys will you keep out? What do you put away and for how long?
How can toys be stored differently? How can they be used differently?
Please share your tips - after all, it is only January and it's a long way till the next holiday season.
Let's make it new again. And again and again.
