Toddler Activities: Setting Up An Activity Area

Setting Up An Area

What this will help achieve? By setting up a specific area for toddler activities and reinforcing the behaviors you expect while doing a project with you, will help to lay the foundation for many positive behaviors later.

Your child will learn this is where, when and how they can color using crayons. markers and pencils. This will significantly reduce the occurrence of murals, crayons lost in couches, marks on your furniture, t.v. and other items.

Of course getting to that point means monitoring behavior closely and yes...it means sitting with your child and reminding them to put away their crayons, don't put them in their mouths, don't peel the wrappers and so on. Unfortunately, it is not an overnight process however, I can assure you that you will be thankful later!

Tips and Suggestions

Select an area that you will be doing all craft related activities. Be sure it is free from clutter and children can work without fear of damaging things from spills, or breaking objects nearby.

Define this area when you are about to do an activity by using a blanket or mat and later a table and chair

Continually reinforce that ALL drawing is done here on the mat or at the table, not on the couch, not in front of the t.v. etc.

Other Helpful Set Up Tips

Our Set Up for Activities at 12 Months

A small nesting table or a low table will provide a nice work space.

Clipboards with rounded edges and a flat clip also work well for a writing surface or for holding a paper steady.

Shower curtain liners are an inexpensive way to protect floors and carpets and make clean up much easier.

A crib blanket or a small mat are great for providing a soft area if you have tile or hardwood floors and for designating a work area.

Our Two Year Old Set Up

We used one table and two chairs for both children until they were about 3 and then when our toddler activities got more involved, we got a second table. They are well made and I felt they could use the table in their room as a bedside table when they outgrew it as a desk. At 4 years old, it fits them fine! In fact the chair is sturdy enough that both my husband and I have sat in the chair next to them.