“What a mess! What a mess! What a beautiful mess!” I keep repeating these words to myself but I just can’t make myself believe them! The playroom is a MESS! I just cleaned 1/2 of it Friday waiting out the weather to see if I’d have to drive like a mad woman to my daughter’s preschool to join her if the tornado sirens went off! However, we were spared being hit by the tornadoes here in West TN. When I picked Sophia up from preschool, she ate her lunch and immediately gravitated to the playroom to play! I enjoyed a little more quiet time before nap time. Then, we had other little friends come play with her on Saturday. The outcome———-a MESS! But it truly is a beautiful mess because we have a room to contain the multitude of items she owns at 3.5 years old- her crayons, activity books, reading books, markers, pillow pets, throws, albums, stuffed animals, dolls, etc. Additionally, it’s a blessing to have friends to share our toys with throughout the week.
The playroom is a room filled with color, imagination, creative projects, loose ends, and more! It’s a room to embrace daily. To reflect on the day and repeat THANKS for having the blessings of the mess! And when it’s clean, it’s a blessing then too! There’s a teachable moment to point out to a child that everything has a place———even in the playroom!
Books are placed on the bookshelves. Markers, crayons, color pencils——–all have their own containers to house them. Crayon Rocks are contained separately. Puzzles are housed in the plastic filing bin. The pink plastic bucket contains dress-up clothes. The green bucket grabs loose toys—odds and ends! A wicker basket holds the throws and pillows for lounging.
The playroom is a room that’s constantly evolving as I mesh my busy life as a mom——–and the many hats I wear with my daughter’s own collection of desires. If she’s not allowed to play, then how will she discover everything she likes? Luckily, she likes order in the house and will often say, “That doesn’t go there! That’s silly!” She’ll pick up the item and put it where it belongs! Now, this trait of ORDERLINESS that she picked up from me hasn’t transferred to the playroom! Maybe because my desk (in one corner of her playroom) is always a MESS. It’s where I can create and work on a multitude of projects! And when I do clean my desk off, in a moment of “work (my playtime)” it’s a MESS again. Thus, I’ll help teach Sophia how to put her toys and objects back on the shelves & in their containers but as she WORKS (PLAYS), I’ll have to enjoy the MESS that stays only in the playroom!
Tip: When the playroom looks chaotic, step back and decipher what needs to go to the mission, the garbage can, another room, a trinket box for projects, etc. It’s the best time to purge items. Remove “baby toys” by taking them to the attic and/or giving them to a NEW home! You’ll have to do this biweekly and/or monthly depending on how often your children receive new toys/games/trinkets.
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