112: How to Set up a Play Room

One of the things people email me wanting to know about most often is “what does the research say about how to set up a play room? What toys should I buy that will have the greatest benefit for my child’s learning and development?” I’d actually been putting off doing this episode for a while, in part because the research base on this topic is thin on the ground – but also because the idea just made me kind of uncomfortable. I mean, we’ve survived for tens of thousands of years without play rooms – or even dedicated toys, never mind the incredibly beautiful and expensive ones that are available now! – what could I really say about this? Well, now’s the time. Perhaps it shouldn’t surprise you that this episode is coming in the middle of our series on the intersection of money and parenting. I hope it offers you some reassurance about how to set up your own play room – if you choose to and are able to. And even more reassurance if you choose not to or can’t.

Other episodes on this series

This episode is the second in a series on the intersection of parenting and money. You can find other episodes in this series:

038: The Opposite of Spoiled

105: How to pass on mental wealth to your child

107: The impact of consumerism on children

115: Reducing the Impact of Advertising to Children

118: Are You Raising Materialistic Kids?

References

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Wohlwend, K. (2015). Playing to belong: Princesses and peer cultures in preschool. In R. Hains & M. Forman-Brunell (Eds.), Princess cultures: Mediating girls’ imaginations and identities (p.91-114). New York: Peter Lang.


Yogman M, Garner A, Hutchinson J, et al; AAP COMMITTEE ON PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH, AAP COUNCIL ON COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA. The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children. Pediatrics. 2018;142(3):e20182058

About the author, Jen

Jen Lumanlan (M.S., M.Ed.) hosts the Your Parenting Mojo podcast (www.YourParentingMojo.com), which examines scientific research related to child development through the lens of respectful parenting.

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