Made for Play
Explore child development through play, find inspiration for your next DIY project, and discover tips for selecting the perfect toys for your little ones.
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Princess Bedroom Decor Ideas
10 Princess Bedroom Decor Ideas Redecorating your kids’ room is an opportunity to get creative and whimsical – especially if they have their heart set on a princess room. After all, when else do you get to use sparkly wallpaper or pink furniture? To help you make her magical makeover a reality, here are a few princess bedroom ideas we love so much they make us want a princess room ourselves! An Enchanted Accent Wall In any room, accent walls are an attractive focal point. In a kids’ room, they’re a fun way to add some pops of color or patterns that your kiddo loves. And in a kids’ princess room? It’s a chance to get seriously fun and fancy. You can be ambitious with a mural of castles or enchanted forests or keep it relatively simple with some stenciled fleurs-de-lis or pretty wallpaper. "Fairy" Twinkle Lights Every princess needs a little sparkle, right? String a few twinkle lights around the room to lend a magical feel to her princess retreat. Princess-Perfect Furniture Some matching on-theme furniture is one of the easiest ways to drive home the “princess” theme. And added bonus? The transition from crib to toddler bed is a little easier when your little princess is extra excited for her new bed. A Canopy Hanging a delicate canopy over that adorable princess bed is an easy way to achieve a dramatic effect. They’re fun, easy to install, and somehow manage to look both elegant and whimsical. Just be sure your little one is old enough to sleep safely with a canopy and knows not to try to hang on it. (Holes in the ceiling are not very royal). A Royal Doll Display Odds are if your little girl wants a princess room, she has a few favorite princess movies, books, and dolls. A special display shelf will put those royal dolls front and center – as it should be in a princess room, right? A Wardrobe (full of princess gowns, of course) Another thing that belongs on display in a princess room? All those princess dress-up clothes. Some pegs on the wall or an open dress-up wardrobe will let those gowns contribute to the room’s decor. A Sparkly Chandelier Well-chosen lighting is a perfect finishing touch in any room. And what’s a better choice for a princess room than a sparkly chandelier? A Vanity fit for Royalty If her room has the space, a kid-sized vanity is a fun way to make your princess feel extra special as she gets ready for the ball… or just for preschool. And if it matches her other princess furniture? Even better. A Cozy Rug Fluffy and fuschia or white and regal… whatever fits your vision, an area rug will add coziness and cuteness to tie the room together. A Castle Dollhouse Dollhouses and princess rooms go hand-in-hand… especially when that dollhouse is designed like a royal castle! The KidKraft Disney Princess Dance & Dream Dollhouse, Disney Princess Cinderella Royal Dream House, and Disney Princess Belle Enchanted Dollhouse have all the royal vibes to complement your princess bedroom decor.
Race Car Bedroom Decor Ideas
9 Racecar Bedroom Decor Ideas Racecar bedrooms are a classic kids’ room theme for a reason. I mean, what’s more exciting than a racecar bed or decor that doubles as a race track for their favorite cars? To help you plan and design your racecar room in record time (and under budget!), we’ve gathered some of our favorite DIYs and products for a fun, racecar-filled room! Magnetic Racecar Growth Chart From Just a Girl and Her Blog This DIY project is surprisingly simple. You’ll just need to thrift an old growth chart and buy some magnetic paint. The final product is more than a growth chart – it doubles as a hanging track for your little driver’s favorite metal cars! Racecar Bed What’s a racecar bedroom without a racecar bed? If you’re transitioning from a nursery to a big kid room, you might consider opting for a toddler bed to make the crib-to-bed transition a little smoother. The KidKraft Racecar Toddler Bed boasts sturdy construction, bold colors, and of course, a speedy racecar complete with tires and spoiler. The added step at the front of the bed makes it easy for little toddlers to climb in and out of bed on their own, and doubles as a shelf for their favorite toys! More Racecar Furniture Beds aren’t the only piece of furniture you can find in a racecar theme! You can make sure the theme is present throughout the room with additional pieces of racecar furniture. Our racecar bookshelf is the perfect way to organize your little racing fan’s books (orrrr all those racecar toys), and it’s designed to perfectly match the KidKraft Racecar Toddler Bed.Or how about a racecar-shaped activity table with a track for playing and racing and creative storage for even the largest car collections? Faux Diamond Plate Sheet Metal From Artzy Fartzy Creations Diamond plate sheet metal can give everything from walls to furniture a “toolbox” look to help tie it into the theme. The only downside is working with actual sheet metal is incredibly tough. Fortunately, you can fake the look with diamond plate vinyl decals and wallpaper! Checkered Patterns From Artzy Fartzy Creations Those black and white checkers are good for more than just flags – it’s the perfect pattern to tie throughout the room. Incorporate it on rugs, curtains, and wall art. Or get super creative, and repurpose wall stickers for checkered ceiling fan blades like this designer! Decorate with Road Signs Sure, racecars don’t drive on the road per se, but if you don’t mind expanding your theme a bit, a collage of vintage road signs is the perfect focal point in a car-themed bedroom! A Racing Track A kid who wants a racecar bedroom is almost guaranteed to love a racecar track! And the Mega Ramp Racing Set works just as well as a piece of decor as it does as a toy. Wood construction means this piece looks great and can stand up to daily play without significant wear-and-tear. Upcycle Tires From Town Fair Tires You’ve probably seen tires upcycled for outdoor planters, but you can repurpose them for indoor decor too – especially in a racecar bedroom! This simple tutorial from Town Fair Tires will show you how you can upcycle an old tire into a perfect on-theme toy display shelf. Tire Tracks If actual tires aren't for you, maybe a few tire tracks are! They’ll look great on walls or hard floors, and you can get the look with vinyl decals or paint and wall stencils.Not 100% committed to a racecar room yet? Be sure to check out our Dinosaur Room Ideas too for more theme inspiration!
5 Activities That Help Communication Skills for Kids
Communication milestones are some of the most fun – first words, first sentences, and all the adorably silly ways toddlers describe things. Fortunately, we don’t have to get fancy to encourage communication skills in our kids – one of the best things we can do is to talk with them as much as possible, using correct language and rich vocabulary. But adding in a few communication-building activities can be a fun way to challenge kids’ language skills and expose them to a wider range of vocabulary. Here’s a few simple activities to help your kids become confident, well-spoken communicators. Reading We know – this one is probably so obvious we could just skip it, but reading with your kids truly is one of the best things you can do to help them develop language and communication skills. Books not only help them develop a large vocabulary – kids will also intuitively pick up on sentence structure and grammatical rules, especially as you read some of the same books over and over. Even story books without words can be amazing for kids’ language development. (Think books with evocative pictures like Jerry Pinkney’s The Lion and the Mouse.) These books empower kids to decipher what’s happening in the pictures, make inferences about characters’ emotions, and narrate their own version of the story. Simon Says This classic kids’ game is great for developing skills in listening closely and following instructions, both of which are critical in the school years. And it can still be fun even if it’s just you and the kids. Take turns being Simon each time someone messes up – they’ll love the chance to give instructions too! Emotion Charades Non-verbal communication is important too – especially since recognizing non-verbal cues in others is tough for many kids. To practice, you can play a game of “Emotion Charades” where you take turns acting out different emotions (excited, bored, annoyed, angry, etc.). You can add an extra layer to the game by asking kids when they’ve seen someone display that emotion in real life, why they felt that way, and how your child reacted. Mystery Bag Have kids reach into an opaque bag filled with random objects and try to describe and guess what they feel without looking. Model it yourself a few times, making sure to get really precise as you describe the shape and feel of each object and what you think it is. Kids not only get a chance to flex their inductive reasoning muscles, they’ll also feel encouraged to use rich, descriptive language. Family Show and Tell No, you don’t need to have your kid do a presentation in front of all their friends, but casual mini-versions of show-and-tell in your own home can help your kids gain confidence as a speaker. Anytime they seem extra interested in a toy, activity, or show, simply ask them to tell you about it. You can ask them a mix of real and imagination-based questions like describing how a toy looks, where they got it, what it likes to do, where it sleeps, what it eats, etc. They’ll grow their imaginations and their speaking skills as they come up with answers. And if they seem to get shy in response to your questions instead of enjoying answering them? No worries. You can simply move on to something else – the last thing you want to do is make them feel pressure to perform. Instead, just look for natural opportunities to talk with your kids about things they enjoy.Remember, it’s not about racing to get to the first word or having the kindergartner with the most impressive vocabulary. Just try to help your child know that you truly enjoy communicating with them, whether that’s in a game like the ones above or in your day-to-day life. Kids who feel heard and respected (at any stage of communication) are more likely to feel confident and prepared as they communicate with peers, teachers, and other adults throughout their life.
Unlocking the Power of Play: 4 Essential Types to Inspire Your Child
We love talking about kids’ play almost as much as we love developing open-ended, play-focused toys. Because we believe play is so much more than entertainment. It’s a brain-boosting, vocabulary-building, social-skill-teaching wonder. Just as your kiddo needs a varied diet, they need different types of play – and these four are a great place to start! Here are four essential types of play that help your child learn, grow, and thrive! Constructive Play Constructive play is anything that involves kids building with toys like building blocks, play dough, train sets, and craft materials. This type of play looks like it’s all fun and games, but it can also indicate whether kids are hitting developmental milestones. Babies between 14 and 20 months should be able to stack two blocks together, then four blocks by 17 - 24 months, and finally six blocks by 20 - 30 months. Experts use these benchmarks to gauge whether your child’s hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and cognitive skills are developing as expected.Constructive play has also been associated with kids’ performance in school, especially in math. In one study, kids who created more complex structures around age 4 were more likely to have higher math scores later in life. This type of play has also been linked to improved spatial reasoning, stronger language development, and more creative problem-solving. Dramatic/ Pretend Play Dramatic play happens when kids take on a “role” and act it out. It can be as simple as playing chef in their play kitchen or as whimsical as pretending to be a fairy astronaut in space. Either way, kids are benefitting from their made-up scenarios… especially when you join in and play with them! For younger toddlers, pretend play often looks like acting out aspects of adult life – even the ones that might seem dull to us like sorting mail or folding socks. This type of play helps them make sense of the adult world and build essential life skills.For older kids, pretend play takes on endless possibilities. When they act out real-world scenarios (even with a little fantasy twist), they rehearse the social norms of everyday interactions, building their confidence and vocabulary. When they pretend to be another character or person, they practice putting themselves in someone else’s shoes, helping them develop empathy and social understanding. And of course, pretend play is hugely important for helping kids develop their creativity! Active Play Running, jumping, hanging, climbing, etc. are all part of the active play category, and as you could probably guess, this type of play is critical for kids’ physical health. As they engage in high-energy activities (ideally outside), they’re not just strengthening muscles and getting exercise. They’re developing strong bone density and robust vestibular systems (the bodily system that’s responsible for balance and spatial awareness.)Active play has tons of less obvious benefits too. Kids who get more activity tend to sleep better at night, have an easier time focusing on academic tasks, and are less likely to struggle with anxiety and depression, Social Play All of these types of play can be combined with another critical type: social play. Whether it’s playing tag, building a tower together, or playing house with a friend, social play fosters social and emotional development as kids learn to interact with their peers. When kids pretend together, each pretend scenario comes with a kind of unspoken social contract as kids decide what they are going to be and how their make-believe world works. If they want to change something about the scenario, they’ll need to communicate and get their friends on board.But don’t worry if it seems like your toddler isn’t exactly interested in social play yet. Sociologist Mildred Parten broke down kids’ stages of play into six distinct categories, all of which involve different amounts of social interaction: Unoccupied play occurs when very young babies observe the world around them with interest but don’t try to interact with it yet. Independent play occurs when a child plays alone. It usually begins around age 2 and lasts through childhood. Onlooker play is most common around ages 2 and 3 and occurs when kids simply observe other kids playing but don’t join in. Though it may seem like they’re not doing much, they’re actually soaking in a ton of information on social norms and how older kids play together. Parallel play is also common around ages 2 and 3. In this case kids are playing near each other, often doing similar activities, but aren’t really playing with each other yet. Associative play is similar to parallel play but with a little more social interaction as kids may talk to each other and influence each other’s activities (like making suggestions for their block tower or trying to copy a friend’s drawing). This type of play is most common between ages 3 and 4. Cooperative play is what we’re likely thinking of when we picture traditional “social play.” Kids are truly playing with each other, not just near each other, and are interacting and communicating. This type of play emerges as kids’ favorite way to interact with their peers around age 4 or 5. Each of these stages is important, so don’t worry if your little one is more of an onlooker than a “jump-on-in” type. They’re still picking up valuable social skills that will benefit them later when they do engage more in cooperative play! Helping Your Child Engage in Different Types of Play Helping your kiddos get enough of each type of play is simple. As long as they aren’t spending too much time on screens or at scheduled events, they’ll naturally seek out these types of play on their own. Our job is simply to provide a few open-ended toys that support each type of play, give them plenty of free time to engage in play, and join in on the fun!Use our Shop by Skills page to easily find toys that foster these different types of play and the developmental skills associated with them!
Best Types of Toddler Toys by Age
Shopping for adults is hard. Shopping for toddlers? That’s easy. They’ll be excited to open almost anything, and if you stick to classic toys that match their developmental stage, they’ll actually play with it – sometimes for years to come! To simplify your buying while still keeping your options open, our guide breaks down some of the best categories of toys for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and beyond! Toys for Infants (7-12 months) Bead Mazes Bead mazes are an ideal developmental toy for babies because they allow for fine motor practice with small objects without creating a choking hazard. Small pieces are big no-no for kids under three due to their tendency (aka compulsive need) to put everything in their mouth. The downside is those tiny objects are the perfect size for their little hands to explore and manipulate. Bead mazes solve that! Tiny pieces are fully attached to the toy but mobile enough that they can still practice spinning and sliding them around. Push Toys Most babes in this age range are just starting to find their sea legs – they’re pulling up, practicing standing on their own for a bit, and maybe even taking those first wobbly steps as early as nine or ten months. Pushcarts are a great way to support those developing skills. Look for ones that are sturdy enough that they won’t tip over when little ones use them to pull up but just light enough that they can start pushing them forward. Toys for 1 Year Olds Blocks Did you know a toddler’s ability to stack blocks is used as a milestone to track their development? Babies 14-20 months should be able to stack two blocks, and two-year-olds should be able to stack four. Why? It’s a strong indicator of how their fine motor skills are developing. Start playing together with blocks by at least one year old (or even sooner) to give them plenty of opportunities to practice. Shape Sorters Shape sorters provide another great way for toddlers to practice fine motor skills, but they also help them build shape recognition and problem-solving skills. Babies under 18 months will do best with simple shapes and just a few holes, and don’t be surprised if they need a tone of help choosing the right shape and fitting it into the hole. Once they start to master that, you can progress to larger shape sorters with tougher-to-recognize shapes, but again, they’re likely to need lots of help to master the new challenge! Toys for 2 Year Olds Climbers There’s no doubt that two-year-olds love to move, and they’re well-known for turning all of your furniture into their own personal playground. Giving them safe, appropriate ways to explore the urge to climb can help them meet that developmental need (and spare your couch cushions). Climbers are an affordable way to provide just that, letting them expend some of that energy, get some outdoor play, and develop gross motor skills in the process. Baby Dolls Hands down, our favorite thing about year two is watching their pretend play really take off! But unlike older kiddos who will start to invent their own characters and storylines, two-year-olds ’ pretend play is often based on what they see in real life. Dolls are ideal for just that, letting them act out roles and actions they see every day. While they may also show interest in smaller dolls and dollhouses at this age, larger dolls and doll furniture are a bit easier for them to handle and manipulate. Plus, they’re a great way to help prepare them for a younger sibling! Toys for 3 Year Olds Train Sets Train sets hit some of the types of play three-year-olds are working to develop: elaborate pretend play with storylines and constructive play (i.e. building and creating). Playing with trains is often a multi-step process that develops several different skills. Assembling the tracks is like a combination of puzzles and blocks; they’ll develop planning, problem-solving, and fine motor skills as they fit the pieces together and plan their track. Then, they can move into pretend play as they chug the train down the tracks and play with any included characters and prop pieces. Play Kitchens Toys like play kitchens are perfect both for letting three-year-olds mimic what you do in real life and eventually adding their own creative pretend scenarios. We like to go for smaller, toddler-sized play kitchens for this age. They can reach everything easily and are less likely to get overwhelmed by too many choices. Toys for 4 Year Olds Craft Tables Your kids have probably loved using colors and paints for years, but now, they’re really starting to get creative and meticulous with their arts and crafts. A space that allows them to easily access a variety of materials (think popsicle sticks, glue, craft pom poms, safety scissors, and various paints and colors) will let them move beyond adult-directed crafts and really start to explore their creativity. It’s best if all those materials can stay somewhat organized so they won’t get overwhelmed or frustrated as they search for what they need. Craft tables with built-in storage are a great solution. And since many children are starting preschool at this age, craft tables can give them practice sitting and staying focused and using the same materials they use in class. Playhouses Imaginative play is growing more complex for four-year-olds, and with a friend or sibling, they can get lost in their own pretend worlds for hours. Dress up clothes and large toys that foster role play are always going to be a hit. Playhouses are a great open-ended toy that lets four-year-olds immerse themselves in their own pretend world, whether that means performing daring firefighter rescues from a burning building, hosting a tea party in their castle, or running their own vet clinic. Toys for 5 Year Olds Outdoor Play Sets With most kids starting full-time kindergarten at this age, they’ll be itching to get some energy out after a long day in the classroom (and to hit the pillow a little early each night!) And since no one has time to hit the park after school and get dinner ready, adding a swingset to the backyard can make it way easier to let the kids get the movement and outdoor play they crave. Dollhouses & Play Sets Your child’s social circle grows dramatically once they start kindergarten, so expect plenty of playdates (and maybe even a sleepover or two in the next couple of years). Dollhouses are classic for fostering engaging social play – look for one that’s the right size for the dolls your child is into at the moment. At this age, that’s usually 12” dolls like Barbies and LOL Dolls or 18” dolls like American Girl or Our Generation. If your child loves the type of play you do with dollhouses but doesn’t love dolls, playsets like our Deluxe Fire Rescue Set or Pirate’s Cove Play Set are a great alternative and perfect for action figures!
7 Halloween Ideas for Toddlers
No need to get spooked by Halloween activities that cost an arm and a leg or take hours to prep. These Halloween ideas for toddlers are easy, cheap, and most importantly super fun for your favorite little monsters! Easy Witch’s Brew From Toddler ApprovedIf you’ve ever made “Nature Soup” in your backyard, you know how oddly entertained toddlers are by adding random objects to buckets of water and stirring away. All you need to turn that “soup” into a spooky witch’s brew is a few inexpensive Halloween-themed objects. This version uses eyeball “ice cubes,” plastic spiders, and fake cockroaches, but anything you have on hand works! If you have any witches’ hats and cauldrons around, be sure to use them to add to the fun! Pumpkin Bath From Busy ToddlerDo pumpkins need a bath? Nope. Will that stop your toddler from absolutely loving the responsibility of bathing the pumpkins? Nope. They’ll love it. Just fill up your sink with some water and suds, toss in a few small pumpkins and hand the kiddos a few scrub brushes or rags. Jack-o-Lantern Sensory Squish Bags From Fantastic Fun and LearningSensory activities are great for toddler engagement. The only major downside is they tend to be… messy. Like sometimes really, really messy. But not these easy jack-o-latern sensory bags. All you’ll need is some yellow or orange food coloring, corn syrup or cheap hair gel, and black felt for the jack-o-lantern face. We like the approach of taping it to a window, so the light can shine through as they squish the orange “pumpkin” gel and rearrange the jack-o-lantern’s face. And the best part? All the mess is contained in the bag, so you can get a few things done while they play! Spider Stamping From Crafty MorningIs there anything better than activities that are free and ridiculously easy? As long as you have some paint and paper somewhere (and what toddler parent doesn’t?), you can make these easy spider stamps with almost no prep or extra cost. Just cut a few slits into an old toilet paper roll, dip it into the paint, and let your little ones stamp away as they create their spiders. Googly eyes add an extra layer of fun...especially if they want to add 8 eyes to each spider! Pumpkin Hammering From Montessori Dad’s WayThis activity has been popping up all over Insta for good reason. It’s endlessly entertaining and helps develop strength and fine motor coordination. Poke some golf tees into a pumpkin (you can use a real one or a foam one), provide some wooden hammers, and let your toddler hammer them into the pumpkin. You can adjust it to their level depending on how deep you make the holes for them. Little ones may need you to push the tees all the way in and then pull them back out. Pour Painted Pumpkins From Homegrown FriendsKids already love pouring and painting, so just add a pumpkin, and you’ve got a Halloween toddler activity that yields surprisingly pretty results. Use white pumpkins and colors that blend well together, and you just may end up with something front-porch worthy. The Switch Witch Part activity, part brilliant way to prevent your toddler from eating 5 lbs of candy on Halloween. Just like Santa and the Easter Bunny, the Switch Witch brings kids special surprises on her favorite holiday. The only catch? She’ll want to “switch” that surprise out for a big bucket of candy! Kids are pumped about their new toy (maybe go for something they’ve had their eye on for a while), and the Switch Witch always leaves a few pieces of candy for the littles to enjoy. You can give the kiddos some control by letting them decide what candy they really want to keep and how much they’ll leave out for the Switch Witch. Turn it into an all-October activity by building up the Switch Witch, drawing your own Switch Witch pictures, or reading a Switch Witch book together.
Kids Bookshelf Styling Tips
Having both function and style in kids’ rooms is possible – even on the bookshelf they use and rearrange everyday. Here are our favorite tips for styling kids’ bookshelves in a way that’s kid-friendly and maintainable! Books & Bookends A few favorite kids’ books are a given, right? Shelves tend to look best when there’s a little open space, so don’t fill the entire things with books. Instead, use a kid-friendly bookend (maybe even a heavy wooden toy) to hold them in place. Baskets & Boxes Baskets and storage cubes can add a stylistic touch to the shelves and keep clutter out-of-sight. Try wicker or canvas storage cubes for the added textural elements! Don’t Overcrowd This tip is pretty basic, but it makes a huge difference in keeping your shelves looking cute. Rotating toys and books instead of keeping them all out at once can help avoid the overcrowding, keeping the bookshelf neat and helping kids focus on one activity at a time. Stuffed Animals & Classic Toys While a ceramic vase or glass picture frame might be the perfect finishing touch, they’re definitely not kid-friendly items, especially if you’re hoping for the kids to use the shelf for toys and books. Instead, put a few of their cutest toys ons display to provide those finishing touches, and keep less aesthetic toys hidden in bins and baskets when they’re not being played with. Add a Plant or Two Hear us out. We get that plants potentially mean broken pottery and dirt on the floor, but older kids will enjoy the responsibility of watering their own plant everyday, and they can really brighten up the shelf. Go for hardy plants like the Chinese evergreen or devil’s ivy. They both handle under/over watering well. If your vision includes perfectly styled shelves with breakable knick-knacks, some out-of-reach wall shelves are your best bet. Use them to capture the vibe you want, and then utilize floor shelves for the practical day-to-day. While you can definitely add some style to your lower shelves, you can be sure they’ll get “re-styled” everyday by your kids – as they should be! Match the Bookshelf to Your Kid’s Room Seems simple, but it’s easier said than done. Finding quality, cute, kid-sized shelves that match the finishes and colors of your kiddos’ rooms or playrooms can be tough. But we’re willing to bet you can find the perfect one with KidKraft. We’ve got kid-friendly shelves that come in white, natural wood, and dark wood finishes as well as bright, kid-favorite colors. We also offer a variety of sizes and styles, from large shelves with storage bins, to classic bookcases, to cube shelves that double as cozy reading nooks. Browse all of our bookcases and shelves to find the perfect fit and get to styling it your way!
Ideas for Setting up a Kids Reading Corner
Books your kids love + plenty of time to read + a cozy reading spot = recipe for raising a reader. Trips to the local library and a schedule that includes daily reading time can take care of the first two. And for that reading spot? We’ve got you covered with these tips for setting up the perfect kids’ reading nook! Get Comfy First things first. If it isn’t comfortable, it’s not a reading spot! You’ve got plenty of options – floor cushions, kids’ rocking chairs, comfy kids’ reading chairs. You know your kids best, so just pick something you think they’ll actually use. And if we may be so bold, we’ve got a few super comfy options we think they’ll love. Our Bookcase with Reading Nook comes complete with plenty of shelf space and a comfy cushioned section to snuggle up in. The Little Dreamer Deluxe Reading Nook comes with even more space to stretch out, plus a little tent for extra coziness. equally cushy with tons of storage space (and the added fun of one of their favorite book characters!). And last but not least, our Book Nook Tent is the ultimate little reading hideout. Add a few of your little’s pillows and blankets and stock the shelves with their favorite books, and they’ll never want to leave! Just Add Books Speaking of stocking the shelves – and at the risk of stating the obvious – your reading corner needs at least a few books! You can opt for a bookshelf that can hold their entire library or just use a basket that can hold a few books at a time. Sling shelves are a great middle-ground – they’re compact but have plenty of room to display your kiddo’s favorite books. Light it Up Once you’ve created a comfy spot and a place for the books, the rest is just extra – but it can be fun! A little lamp or flashlight can help the nook feel extra cozy and may actually come in handy if it’s dimly lit. We love the idea of a salt lamp or a lamp with a dimmer switch for some relaxing vibes! Deck it Out Some reading-themed wall art is the perfect finishing touch! Framed prints of some favorite quotes or picture book characters are always cute and on-theme. (Check out Etsy for tons of cute, affordable printables.) A little basket of bookmarks, a sticker chart reading log, or a notebook and pens are also fun additions! Creature Comforts The best finishing touch? Anything that entices your little ones to settle in and get reading! That may mean cozy blankets, favorite stuffed animals, a little table or tray for snacks and drinks… or even a big chair so you can join in with a book of your own! Just get them involved, and they’re sure to have plenty of opinions about what will make that reading corner inviting, comfortable, and fun! Shop KidKraft for child-sized bookshelves and reading nooks We hope these reading nook ideas have you inspired to create a cozy reading space for your little one! When you’re ready to get started, be sure to browse our selection of kids’ bookshelves and reading nooks! From the low shelves to the cute and comfy cushions, they’re designed with little readers in mind!
