www.womanthismonth.com April 2016 75 eye as well as the pocket. Label them for your child to remember what goes in where. Cabinets and cupboards within easy reach can encourage kids to be responsible for their own things. Hang their school uniforms in a place where they can easily reach them every morning. PLAY PLACE – More often than not, a child’s bedroom doubles up as a playroom. So keep in mind that you actually need to factor in space where your child can actually spend hours playing, reading or discovering things. A playful rug on the floor instantly demarcates an area on which toys can be strewn around to tinker with. If space permits, assign an area to be your child’s go-to place; a cosy reading nook, a hammock swinging across the room, or even a small pop-up tent. Parents will vouch that no matter how many colouring books they are surrounded with, little fingers always end up dressing the walls with crayons. Your solution? Give them a wall (or a part of it) for their artistic endeavours. Decorate a wall with chalkboard paint on which children can make their doodles, scribble their thoughts and let their creativity flow. An alternative is to cover a wall with construction paper, to give them a place to express themselves, at the same time protecting the underlying wall space. FURNITURE FOREVER – A bed in the shape of a racing car or a ship can be fun to fall asleep in. A child’s room should, by all means, have things that are fun for their age, but a few wise investments can last a lifetime. A vintage rocking chair in your baby’s nursery is a handy piece for putting her to sleep, and can then graduate to being the best place to ponder in for a teenager. A beautiful chest of drawers can be functional in the early years and a meaningful memento when a child moves into a new home. A sturdy study table will serve its purpose for many years. SAFETY MATTERS – As with everything revolving around children, safety in a child’s room is imperative. Not to say that you need a fire engine stationed at the door at all times, but a few practical pointers can prevent serious accidents. - Cover all electric points with socket covers. Loose wires trailing the floor can be tripped over, or chewed on by teething toddlers. - Leave heavy items (like large storage boxes) on the floor, and not on the top shelves of an open cabinet. - Avoid hanging heavy mirrors or picture frames over the bed. - Use safety latches on pull-out drawers. - All items in the room must be unbreakable. Avoid glass objects at all costs! - Beds of younger children should be away from windows.
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