Observing our children’s self-directed play helps us to understand them, become more empathetic and attuned, and it is the key to finding more joy in day-to-day parenting. These benefits (and more) are the reason I’ve shared so many play-inspired posts and videos. Most have focused on the parent’s role in nurturing child-directed play and the invaluable learning that happens when we do. I’ve shared specific recommendations for toys (or “play objects,” as infant specialist Magda Gerber liked to call them), but only some general guidelines for play spaces.

So, I was beyond thrilled when several dozen members of an online group I belong to shared their personal photos in response to a parent’s query: “Anybody care to share pictures of toddler toy shelves/organization? I’ve got too many toys out and I’m in need of inspiration! Thanks in advance.”

I love these examples because they are the real deal, rather than Pinterest perfect. They are safe, practical, “yes” spaces, and I’m hoping they will inspire ideas of your own…

Hannah: “After reading Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne, I was inspired to clean up my kids’ space. They are 4 (G) and 2 (B). I threw away/gave away/put away a bunch of their toys. They also have a play kitchen on the other side of the living room, a few stuffed animals in their bedroom, and a bunch of outdoor toys that I still need to go through (it’s easy to forget what all is out there since I don’t see it all the time). They actually play with all of their things now, and it takes no time at all to clean the space up. The art supplies are on the top shelf so that my son can’t easily reach them since he likes to draw on everything if given the chance.”

Sara S: “Here’s our organization. The drawers and blue hanging device on the right are for clothes.”

Amanda: “Here are our play spaces. Toys are very sparse but get played with for long periods of time. Wooden car, drum, silks, felt balls, 2 board books, and arches.”

“My nearly 4 year old’s play table, wooden ship, and barn with animals.”

Lauren: “Here’s our play space for our nearly 16 month old. I have toys on the one shelf, a big basket of balls and a few key items out in the floor that are his favorites at that time – currently his box of blocks, a dump truck, a silver bowl and wooden spoon, and a push “mower.” I try to rotate every few weeks, bringing in some new things and taking the items out that he’s shown less interest in.”

Leah: “Here is the space for my daughter. I work from home two days a week, so these are photos of our shared office/play space (no photos of my desk here… it is gated off so I’m fenced in while we work/play). My desk is just to the right of the rocking boat/steps. Perhaps I should mention that she’s 9 months, so I’m sure this space will evolve with her!”

Sara M: This one is in the main area for a 11 mo old and 2, 2.5yr olds.”

“…And this is the gated-off area just for the older boys. Previously, it was the baby’s play area until he got super mobile. Now they can go in there to do those things little brother shouldn’t interfere with.”

Sheena: “His bedroom.”

“I quite often just put his mattress on the floor for a roll around.”

Kirsten: “My son can currently reach the bottom two shelves. We keep a basket of balls and a basket of wooden blocks. He has between 6-8 books on his shelf at a time. We are a bilingual home, so half in each language. He has one wooden puzzle out at a time. Plus some stuffed animals. He likes to pull out the box on the bottom shelf and put things in and take them out. He can’t pull out the other two boxes yet. We have definitely found that less toys means more independent play.”

Sarah V: “I love our space. It used to be a traditional lounge /dining. I live in Hong Kong so space is at a premium. So we did away with tv and dining table. Its quite cozy now. Kids are 14, 4, 3, and 1.”

Mellissa: “I was inspired, too, and just packed up a TON of toys. Plus I haven’t rotated toys in at least three months, so I pulled out some others that my daughter is now obsessing over. Maybe it’s still too much, but I like it for now. The bins on top hold wooden blocks, hand puppets, dress up clothes, and diapers/wipes. And my kids are 23 months and 8 months.”

Stacey: “Spencer’s room-23 months.”

“…Other side-book nook/quiet space.”

Brittney: “These are the shelves in our small living room play area. Like others, I recently read Simplicity Parenting and cut down on the number of toys we have out.”

Danielle: (Play tent in corner folded up.)

Rebecca: “Here’s our space for a 38 month old and 19 month old. It is spread over two open play rooms. Definitely agree less is more.”

“… We use the 4 cube shelving (it’s very sturdy) with only one object in each square or a basket for loose parts. We also use baskets on the floor and a small book case for the ‘kitchen’ items and in the kids’ rooms. We rotate every 6 weeks or so.”

Jennifer: “Our space is for my 4 year old daughter and 22 month old son. The bins contain balls, bristle blocks, dress up items, and cars. Both kids love to create “obstacle courses” with the bricks and foam blocks.”

Emma: ‘Yes’ room

Lynda: “I try to use bookshelf storage, but for some reason the kids prefer it empty.”

Amy (from Midwest Montessori): “Here is our daughter Charlotte’s bedroom and play area at 13 months. We adopted the RIE philosophy soon after her first birthday. While we already followed Montessori principles, RIE gave us the answers we needed to accommodate her entry into toddlerhood and the limit setting that goes along with it. The more we implement RIE the more free we feel in our interactions with Charlotte and the more confident we feel in our limit setting. We are so happy to have found a gentle and respectful parenting philosophy that so wonderfully coincides with Montessori. We are excited to implement RIE principles from birth with our future children as well.”

“Here is the reading nook. It’s inside a closet.”

Tiffany: “My son is 2.5.”

Sarah S: “Here is our basement family room. I’ve always wanted to paint it a nice bright white. The train table drawers hold the trains and the duplos. The shelf and baskets were a Craigslist find. There is another shelf in the right corner and parking for all the big trucks. We spend more time upstairs in our living room but only have one open toy shelf. I try to rotate. We also have an Art corner in our kitchen.”

Belle: “Just had a declutter, and our 16 month old is loving rediscovering her space.”

Thanks so much to all of you for allowing me to share your lovely play spaces!

***

Since so many of you have asked, HERE‘s a link to the arched steps in several of these photos.

(Parents have also built their own.)

I share more about cultivating the joyful habit of child-directed play in my book:

Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting

More recommended reading:

The Best Toys for Babies Don’t Do Anything by Magda Gerber

Our Thoughts on Open-Ended Toys by Mamas in the Making (and all of their other posts on play)

What is Play? by Lisa Sunbury, regardingbaby.org

Child’s Play: The Art of Toy Rotation by Adrienn Csoknyay, playfullearning.net

The many “untoys” I’ve listed in Unexpected Toy Find! and the Play section on this blog