You’ve just arrived home from the park with your little one, who’s a little tired after all that running around. As you take your coat off and hang it up on its hook, you notice that your toddler is standing on their tiptoes, arms out-stretched, desperately trying to hang their coat up too. You smile and bend down to pick them up so they can finally hang their coat, and they giggle with delight.

Later that day, you call out that dinner is ready, and your toddler comes running into the kitchen, clearly quite hungry. They reach their chair and start pulling themselves up, their face all scrunched up in concentration, as though they’re climbing Mount Everest. While the image makes you laugh, these instances get you thinking - Is my home really set up for children? I’ve safety-proofed the house and there are toys everywhere, but does the furniture and placement of shelves and hooks make sense for a small child?

Toddlers love to do things for themselves and feel like they have some independence, so it’s important to create a household space that caters to their height and capabilities.

Before we take a look at how you can do this, let’s first explore why your child will benefit from a child-friendly space.

Why is it important to make space for my child at home?

A home space that caters to your child’s needs can help to develop their creativity, sharpen their focus, and even increase their motivation to learn, play, and help around the house. What’s more, when your child has the capacity to do things for themselves, their independence and confidence will skyrocket!

Now don’t worry, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make this happen, nor will it dramatically affect the look and feel of your home. So, with all of this in mind, let’s discover how to turn your home into a space that allows your toddler to thrive!

How can I make sure my home is a child-friendly space?

Let’s begin with some general tips to bear in mind:

Child-sized furniture. No, not all of your furniture needs to be built for kids, but they’ll love a smaller chair that they can easily manoeuvre and sit with their feet firmly planted on the floor.

Encourage independence. Have activities and toys set up in trays and baskets on lower shelves so that your child can reach them all on their own.

Less is often more. When it comes to toys and activities, we recommend that you only display a few at any one time as too many could overwhelm your child. If they aren’t playing with a toy very often, store it somewhere else or give it away. This will also help you to keep the home tidy and clutter-free.

A place for everything and everything in its place. Toddlers really thrive when they feel there is a sense of order.

See the space through your child’s eyes. Get down to their level and have a look around, trying to think from the perspective of your toddler. Are there any wires or outlets that look exciting to a curious child?

Hang up their artwork. By placing their creations around the home where they can see them, you’ll inspire your kids and fill them with healthy amounts of pride.

Now let’s go room by room and offer up a few suggestions for the relevant space:

Home entrance

Place low hooks where your kids can hang their coats, bags, hats, and scarves.

Have a basket or shelf for shoes and a basket for seasonal items like hats and scarves, sunglasses, and sun cream. If you have more than one child, it might be a good idea to give them each a basket of their own.

Consider a little chair where your child can sit and pull their shoes on and off.

Living room/place for reading and arts and crafts

Your child will benefit from a small chair and table to sit down and get on with some fun arts and crafts.

Place toys, activities, and games on lower shelves, so your child can easily do things for themselves and gain some independence.

They’ll love a cosy bean bag or chair where they can sit comfortably and read a book, preferably beside the window with plenty of natural light.

Kitchen and eating area

Find a chair your child is able to climb in and out of all on their own.

A wipeable place mat with a plate, glass, and cutlery guide can be really useful for a toddler. It should also minimise mess.

Find some child-sized plates, cutlery, and cups.

Keep sharp knives out of reach.

Have an easy-to-get-to water source, so your child can get themselves something to drink and a fruit bowl well within their reach and stocked with fruit.

They’ll benefit from a transportable stepladder that allows your child to join you at kitchen surfaces and help you prepare and cook food.

They’ll adore a child-sized apron and child-friendly baking utensils.

Bedroom

If your child isn’t sleeping in a crib, make sure they’re able to get in and out of their bed on their own.

Book and toy baskets allow your child to get up in the morning and entertain themselves while you get a few extra minutes of sleep!

Ensure their bedroom is completely childproof as they’ll likely spend a great deal of time on their own in there. This means you’ll need to install child locks on the windows, cover any outlets, and remove electrical cords.

Kids like to look at themselves, so consider a full-body mirror.

Give them a small wardrobe or chest. We suggest that you place out-of-season clothing towards the back to avoid any unnecessary arguments.

Bathroom

A low and transportable step to help them reach the sink, step into the bath, and sit on the toilet will prove really useful.

Put in a low hook, so your toddler can reach their towel and dressing gown.

And of course, get hold of a few toys suitable for water play.

How can I set up space in my home for my child?

Unii looks at how to set up house for a growing family.