Category Archives: Cubbies

Want to give your children a brand-new imaginative play experience? (Side note: we’re not talking about a pirate ship). Kidding aside, cubby houses are all the rage for kids these days. But before diving deeper into this notion, a cubby can be defined as a place designed for development through various activities. These are usually situated in one’s backyard, often an avenue for socialisation. 

While having a cubby house serves as the foundation for learning beyond the classroom, designing its interior with intent creates a better learning outcome. We’ll be going over its benefits quickly: (1) it affects one’s sense of security as designing what belongs to us allows us to practice control; (2) it opens up a pathway that instills being together or enjoying solitude given that it highlights how interior design approaches show a connection to emotional stability, with one linking to The Ohio State University; and (3) it can become an outlet of expression, often linked to less stress. Backed up by years of research, having a cubby house with a desirable interior can be likened to that looking at art exhibits. 

Of course, we wouldn’t just leave you the ‘why’; now we proceed with answering the ‘how’. We’ve collected five simple ways to elevate your cubby’s interior design in a practical manner:

Cubby House Interior Idea 1: Give your entrance a lift

Before entering the cubby, doorways are one of the first few features noticeable by the eye. Moreover, the entrance is passed through multiple times. For these reasons, it may be time to step this pathway up to make first impressions last. You may opt to reflect a welcoming vibe through the color palette chosen, such as beige or white. Putting a seating place can also ramp up its functionality.

Cubby House Interior Idea 2: Add a little pizzazz with nice shelves

This way, your kids can effortlessly flaunt their cute personal items. It will also ve easier for them to grab ahold of educational materials such as books and board games without your help when placed at a level reachable for their height, Make putting your selves a little extra by choosing ones with designs. You can also consider putting decoration on top of it.

Cubby House Interior Idea 3: Comfortable seating and tables are a must

If you’re a parent who spends hours playing with your child inside the cubby house, chances are you need to recharge your energy from time to time. Having a place to rest can equate to feeling like you’ve had another cup of coffee! Look for a piece of furniture that can cater to your fatigue without compromising your posture.

Cubby House Interior Idea 4: Include a Reading Nook 

Introduce reading as an enjoyable habit by creating a reading nook that’s curated with beanbags, visual imagery, and rewards in the form of sweets! You can incorporate artworks, chocolate jars that can be opened after reading a certain amount of pages, or a freshly-baked snack that will be delivered after the said criterion.

Cubby House Interior Idea 5: Go Green: Add some plants

Give your child’s cubby house some vegetation to foster environmental care and having a green thumb early in life. Kids may paint pots with shells, pebbles, and seed pods, while herbs, succulents, and alfalfa are simple to grow and care for. Aside from the stated functions, adding plants also aids in the production of fresh air!

What are you waiting for? Include any of these tips when re-styling your cubby house and see how it will impact your child positively.

Outdoor play should be an essential part of every child’s cognitive development. Although most children nowadays prefer to be inside their homes playing with their tablets, it’s still beneficial for them to go outside and engage in outdoor activities. But their well-being should be the top priority whenever they are out, and kids’ safety is essential while they explore the great outdoors. Here are five ways to make outdoor play safe for your kids.

Establish Rules

First on our list is to establish rules. Make sure you lay down a set of rules and explain them to your kids so they can fully understand them. There are certain things that they must know before engaging in outdoor play, such as not going near the roads where there are cars or even eating things they should not be eating.

Survey The Area

Before letting your children play, check the area for safety hazards. Make sure the equipment is safe to play with for your children. For obvious reasons, this is to avoid accidents occurring while they are out having fun. Gather potentially hazardous objects, such as gardening equipment, ladders, hoses, and chemical products. Place such things in a safe place where your child or their friends cannot access them. Also, look for hazards like holes, low tree branches, thorns, and fire ant hills in your yard. Check for stinging insect nests in outdoor play equipment such as treehouses and playhouses, and investigate sandboxes for insects and animal waste regularly.

Keep Your Kids Supervised

Keep a close eye on your children, so they don’t stroll off or ride up the swing set on their own or play near the road. Adult supervision is one of the top defences young kids can use against outdoor play accidents. Adults can keep an eye out for prospective playground dangers while also being able to intervene and assist with play when needed. If an accident happens, adults can easily take appropriate action.

Be Aware Of Your Surroundings

Letting your kids play in common areas like a field, playground or even outdoor cubby house is an excellent way to meet new people and make friends. But make sure to watch the people with your kids interact. Kids must never talk to or interact with strangers, regardless of how welcoming they appear. If a stranger approaches them, they must either leave or approach you.

Let Your Children Play On Age-Appropriate Equipment

Your children must only play on equipment appropriate for their age and skill level. Some equipment may be too tall or too large for them to reach, so they must use those that are appropriate for their age.

Parents should establish clear outdoor play safety rules for their kids to avoid playground injuries, and adults should participate in active supervision. If parents follow these safety guidelines, they can substantially decrease the risk of a playground accident. It is just as essential to safeguard your child from dangers in the yard and common play areas as to child-proof your home. 

Let’s face it. Technology has taken over all of our lives, especially our kids. Most children would prefer to stay indoors on their tablets playing games. Although staying indoors may be much more comfortable, it is essential to know that spending time outside is just as important. Outdoor play is advantageous to kids for reasons other than the regular exercise it gives. It enables them to interact socially, understand their bodies better, participate in creative play, and relish the outdoors. It may be challenging to plan outdoor time with your kid in today’s hectic and challenging environment. However, you must optimize it for your children’s healthy development and growth. School-aged children require approximately three hours of outdoor play per day. Although this is a great deal to add to your child’s routine, the activity will benefit their mental and physical well-being.

Here are some of the benefits of outdoor play which will encourage you to get your kids to play outdoors.

Improve Motor Skills

Numerous recreational activities typically aid in developing essential motor skills in children, such as coordination, agility, stability, and reflexes. Children that stimulated to discover their surroundings will place their skills to the test and acquire new knowledge through experimentation and error. Children who spend time outside are more inclined to move in forms that test their bodies in general. Children participating in physical activity can enhance their bodies and self-confidence.  

Physical Exercise

Children must develop cardiovascular endurance. Moving, running, leaping, and climbing all help young bodies build muscle strength and stamina. Since they can participate in physical play, children who spend more time outside are less likely to suffer from weight-related health problems. Outdoor areas are ideal for naturally encouraging kids to engage in at least one hour of playtime daily. Furthermore, developing a positive correlation with physical exercise in a child’s formative years prepares them for a good outlook toward keeping an active way of life in their adult years.

Foster Independence

Research has proven outdoor play assists children in gaining a sense of freedom. It enables them to play new games with their playmates, explore different things, and discover their limits and abilities. The optimism they will gain from these discoveries will aid them as they grow and learn. Outdoor play exposes children to unfamiliar environments and encourages them to take positive risks and experience new things at their own pace. It enables them to grow self-awareness and independence as they gain confidence in their abilities. Naturally, children test their skills and acquire new knowledge when given opportunities to try something unique.

Expand Learning Space

Playing outdoors can allow your children to explore nature and have adventures where they will learn many things. It gives them an impression that learning is more comprehensive than four walls. There are certain things that they can learn from playing outdoors that they cannot know when they are inside the house or in the classroom.

Improve Interpersonal Skills

Children regularly interact with other kids and learn to form connections at the playground, cubby houses, or play area. It can make children feel more at ease when they are needed to work collaboratively with new individuals and develop the skills that will serve them well into adulthood. When children acquire new friends, they innately become aware of their peers’ emotions and feelings as they communicate in a secure and encouraging environment. It promotes healthy interpersonal interaction and enables them to make connections without the assistance of their parents or guardians.

Build Resilience

Children today are accustomed to pleasant surroundings and immediate gratification. Enjoying hours outdoors, which may be unpredictable, can teach children to cope with physical and emotional challenges. Numerous outdoor and active play interactions can teach children to persevere in the face of adversity, thereby increasing confidence and self-motivation. As an outcome, children learn to deal with their anxieties and pressure, resulting in better outcomes in their educational lives and future professions.

If you’re looking for ways to keep your child busy, consider getting them a cubby house. A cubby house has so many advantages for your kid that you may be astonished. It offers numerous play opportunities, which will be of enormous help not only to you as parents but also to your children. We have listed down eight reasons why you should get your child a cubby house:

#1 Decreased Screen Time

Encouraging your children to engage in playtime can lessen their time on gadgets. Aside from the fact that it is not healthy, it disconnects them from the real world. Getting them to play outdoors in their cubby house can help them in many ways. If kids establish the routine of stepping outdoors for exciting and truly delightful play while they are young, it will be easier to convince them to cast aside their gadgets when they are older.

#2 Presents Challenges and Opportunities

Providing your children with a fixed environment that pushes them a bit allows them to learn about themselves, their physical skills, and what they are happy performing at their speed. You’ll be astonished at how swiftly they acquire confidence by doing tasks independently and then rising to try something more complicated. That is an organic and natural way for children to test and improve themselves.

#3 It Is Educational

It may not be obvious, but cubby houses could be an excellent educational tool for kids. They can assist in teaching them collaboration, cooperation, and conflict management. If you’ve got multiple children, they can learn to take turns and share with the cubby house. It’s a fantastic approach for children to learn fundamental life skills. It is also commonly acknowledged that interacting with one another is crucial for children to learn how to interact, share, collaborate, understand, and other skills. They’ll be prepared for life if they can navigate through moments when they have opposing ideas regarding what to do and how to play!

#4 It Serves as Your Child’s Personal Space.

Your kids need their alone time too! Kids enjoy having their possessions, such as their room and play area, within the house, but now even they recognise that it is not truly theirs. You assist them in looking after and organising it, and you spend a lot of time with them. That is not the case with a cubby. Getting a cubby house for your kids is an excellent way for them to practice independence and learn how to do things independently. It is like their little haven in the comfort of your home, so you don’t have to worry much about them. 

#5 Stimulates Imagination

Childhood is a time of imagination and fantasy. Even the smallest of children’s dreams can turn into wonders you might not see in the real world. Your child can personalise the cubby house with ingenuity and creativity. Children also can use their imaginations by believing that a cubby house is their only small universe and that they are the kings or queens of it. Within their cubby home, children can play pretend games, exercise their minds and be whoever they wish. Children require hours of excellent playtime to develop their ideas and imaginations, and getting a cubby house is the way to go!

#6 Bonding Activity

These play areas can also serve as a terrific fun family activity. Consider a fun family activity that everyone can engage in together. Once it’s fully operational, the entire family can have fun playing in it. You can even get the kids involved in the excitement of making one. It’s an excellent approach to spend valuable time with not just your kids but with other family members as well.

#7 Encourages Physical Activity 

Kids also need to stay healthy, and exercising is a great way to keep them in good physical condition. There are many things they can do inside their cubby houses, and all of these require physical activity. Climbing, jumping, and running around in their enchanted home provide excellent exercise for children. And they’ll get a lot of workouts without even noticing it! It is an excellent alternative to having your kid sit around all day on their gadgets.

#8 Increase Outdoor Engagement

There are a lot of nutrients they can get from playing outside. One of them happens to be Vitamin D or the sunshine vitamin! The sun is one of the best sources of this nutrient, and getting a cubby house can encourage them to stay outdoors.