Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2014
A tiny apartment with paper-thin walls is hardly ideal when you have a toddler about. Here are some ideas on how to make the most of your space without breaking the piggy bank.
Rotate Toys and Books
Have a limited area for toys and books that are accessible all the time, but put some of your stock away in the cupboard and switch the easy-access items around every few days. If children have too many things to choose from they tend to jump quickly from one thing to another; with limited toys they spend a longer time doing one activity. They also get excited when they see something “new” on the shelf that they haven’t played with for a while. If they have specific favorite toys, leave those out but rotate the others. It’s also a fun way to bring in seasonal or holiday-related toys to match the time of year. Finally, it means you can see which toys interest your child and which don’t; those that never get played with can be donated or thrown out.
Yoga
Sometimes you can’t get outside to get the wiggles out. Yoga is a great activity for little ones and parents alike. The book My Daddy Is a Pretzel by Baron Baptiste is a fun way to introduce yoga to kids. You don’t have to wait for a rainy day; you can make it a daily ritual.
Make Use of the Bathroom
Children are fascinated with water, and Japanese bathrooms are perfect for water play—just close the door and splash away! Use things from the kitchen to play with: plastic bowls, jugs, spoons and whisks. To spice it up try adding bubbles or food color. When it’s hot, add some ice cubes or freeze several objects in a Tupperware container and let your child dig them out (also fun on the balcony or outside). Of course, it goes without saying kids shouldn’t be left unattended when playing with water.
Attack the Recycle Bin
You’re going to be throwing these things out anyway, so why not have some fun with them first? Have a box or drawer with basic crafting supplies like scissors, glue, tape, pipe cleaners, etc. There are hundreds of craft and activity ideas out on the web. The Pinterest website is a great place to start: try searching for “PET bottle crafts” or “tissue box crafts” and see what unique ideas come up.
Remember to Cull
A small place (or even a large one) can easily get cluttered when you don’t do a regular cull. Concentrate on one area at a time (toys, books, clothes, etc.) and get rid of anything that is no longer used or has been damaged, broken or outgrown. By getting rid of what you don’t need, it will make your home feel bigger and less like a toy jungle.
For more ideas on things to do with your kids, check out Jo Ebisujima’s book, Montessori Inspired Activities for Pre-Schoolers, available on Amazon (¥1,313) or visit her Pinterest page for craft ideas:
