A Place for Baby to Play {Creating a Baby Playspace}

Welcome to another post in our Playful Baby series! This year we are hosting a new series about none other than baby play! From playspaces to heuristic play and even paint… we want you to feel comfortable playing with your baby. By the end of the next 12 months you will have an arsenal of baby play ideas! You will have the knowledge and understanding to continue learning and growing with your baby through play. This month we are sharing our baby playspaces!

The space I'm sharing with you today was set up when JB was about 6months old and has slowly been adapted to suit her needs as she's grown. Before 6months, I was basically JB's playspace-if needed we'd grab a blanket and pop it on the floor for some tummy time and Bubbles and Squiggles had great fun burying her in toys but there wasn't a need for a dedicated "playspace". Once she became more active and mobile though it was nice to be able to set up her very own safe space to play-somewhere she could explore the world around her and her developing body.

The first thing to go into JB's space was a mirror-well two actually. I would have preferred one long mirror but when you're on a budget you use what you have! Mirrors are great for developing self recognition, exploring light and shadow and adding depth to baby play and your playspace.

 I then added a beautiful crocheted blanket which was later replaced by a monochrome blanket to define the space and create high contrast stimulation. Near the mirrors I placed a woven basket with a handful of toys chosen for their ability to stimulate JB's senses. Rattles to explore different sounds. Wooden toys to stimulate her olfactory system. Toys of different natural textures to invigorate her sense of touch.

 Bubbles and Squiggles painted some black cardboard with white shapes to stimulate JB and we placed it on the wall next to the mirrors. As JB got older I found it all a bit busy and chose to take it down and leave the wall blank.

When we first created the space-the shelves next to it kept all her extra toys with a lace curtain covering it. Bubbles and Squiggles were able to use the top of the shelf as an exploration table of sorts. Now that JB is older I choose toys she can help herself to. Open baskets on the bottom and special toys I know she loves on top to encourage her to stand.

JB loves her space and takes great delight in pulling out the baskets and dumping the contents everywhere. At times, she seems to enjoy playing with the baskets more than what's in them!

I've also added a step to her space now so she can pull herself up in front of the mirror. I'd love to add a Montessori Pull Up bar but as we live in a rental a step does the trick!

Have you created a space for your baby? What is the one thing you would recommend adding? I'd love to see it on Instagram just add #playfulbabychallenge @squigglesandbubbles @loving_naturally @squishelsandme @mummy_loz @something2offer

Playful Baby Giveaway

Each month as well as equipping you with some fantastic, playful baby ideas we will also be giving away one fabulous Grimm's Spiel & Holz Wooden Toy!

Grimm’s Spiel & Holz have been making unique and distinctive natural wooden toys since 1978. Inspired by the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, Spiel & Holz toys leave room for independent and open-ended play, allowing for the child’s own imaginative and creative life to be developed. Spiel & Holz toys have no sharp edges or corners as all the toys are individually sanded by hand. Each toy is hand-finished with special non-toxic and water-based dyes providing distinctive colours and shades, and then treated with pure vegetable oil.

To enter: Upload your photo to Instagram using the hashtags: #playfulbabychallenge and tag @squigglesandbubbles @loving_naturally @squishelsandme @mummy_loz @something2offer
That’s it… TOO EASY!!
Every valid entry is entered in to the prize draw!

Winners will be chosen based on adherence to the guidelines – your photo can be literal, funny, clever, or really creative! Just make sure you show us how you connect with your baby through play!

The fine print…

• Giveaway is open to Australian residents aged 18 and over.
• The winners will be announced via a blog post and on Facebook and Instagram on the 15th of each month.
• The winners need to contact Squiggles and Bubbles via Facebook within 14 days or prize will go to the runner up.
• This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, authorised by or associated with Facebook or Instagram.

You may also like A Playspace For A 3month Old. Just click the picture to read all about it!

Please always supervise your infant/child at play.  Please stay within arms reach and never leave infants/children unattended.  You know you're infant/child best, use your own judgement-considering your infant/child's temperament, habits, behaviour and development before you play with a new play medium.

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