Playroom issues, outgrowing, etc..

[SAHMinHawaii]

We have a very natural, waldorf styled playroom. My girls are only 6 & 4 and they haven't played with most of the toys in there since I dont know when. I do also have a 18 month old but he has different interests. In particular the dollhouse, kitchen and playstands aren't really getting used. With all that goes wool food, etc.. I did convert their playstands into a art center since they are really into that. My ds loves balls, cars, trains, wooden animals and his waldorf bunny. Our pediatric dentist has a train table and recently we went to my sister's house and she had one as well. My ds LOVES trains now and the train table. So should I swallow the fact that my kids have outgrown these things and move on or what? I feel I should make their space what they are into instead of what I invision their play area to be. Any ideas? What are your kids this age into?

I was thinking of a train table, trains, paint one wall with chalk board paint, lots of art stuff, dress up and their waldorf dolls. That is all they are into inside the house. They would rather be outside than anything. They are both in gymnastics and that is basically all they want to do in their free time.

[2shy2post]

IMHO... I am thrilled that my kids would rather be outside. Our playroom is to offer things to do when the weather is no-good for outside play. Or for the whole family to do things together (games, buidling, puzzles, etc)

(though, I'm bummed you're in Hawaii, b/c I would be snatching up anything you decided to sell! )

Do you have EVERYTHING out? We pack things up and put them in the attic/garage ~ then kind of rotate things as interest wains. Sometimes when the room is FULL of things, the brain just kind of "shuts down" and nothing is appealing.

Honestly, my kids are into "real life" than pretending. (5 & 3.5) They would rather actually cook than pretend to cook.

HTH... it's late and I feel a bit disjointed

[milehighmonkeys]

We sometimes rotate DDs toys and it seems to give them new life, at least for a while. Can you mix it up a little?

[SAHMinHawaii]

My kids love to cook with us too. I guess that is why the wood play kitchen just isn't cutting it anymore. I LOVE that they want to be outside and physically active. It is just so bittersweet to move on from the toddler stage. KWIM? I dont think its that they are bored with the toys, its just that have outgrown them. Farewell playroom, fare thee well.

I am not in hawaii anymore, we live in arizona. I did just sell everything to a mdc mama who lives near us. Now to redo the playroom. .

[2GR8KIDS]

OMG your playroom is (was) so lovely. I can see why it was so hard for you to give it up. I admire you for being able to accept that your kids are moving on to new interests. I hope you update this thread on what you do next with your playroom - my youngest is almost 5 and I feel like we are also entering a new, "post-toy" stage of life ...

[Hoopin' Mama]

Very lovely playroom.

[annethcz]

The playroom is great, but I've found that my kids' interests are often changing and what worked last year doesn't work this year. All of my kids have naturally started to want to spend more time playing outside as they got older.

My 6 and 4yo DDs play outside frequently. The 4yo will still play with dolls on a regular basis, but my 6yo has never really enjoyed them. My girls prefer to color/draw, do crafty things, build forts, have tea parties, ride their bikes and scooters, etc. They don't play with toys very often. Right now, my girls are working on a sewing kit at the kitchen table.