A child's corner at home!

I recall how the idea of a child's corner at home occurred to us about thirty years ago. 

A mother complained about her three year daughter pulling out her clothes from the wardrobe and distributing over the floor. The mother's efforts to restrain her. Her daughter returned home from school before the mother or father arrived from their work. The domestic helper's restrain did not often help.

On enquiry I realised that the girl had only a fee toys or books or other activities to engage in. There was no designated space that was her's. She even co-slept in their parent's bed. There as no high chair around the dining table. 

It was this triggered us to suggest to parents to create a child's corner at home, where a space designated with different items that their daughter normally engaged in. 

The above photos is an exhibition we arranged in my work place to invite families to come and see the different ways a Child's corner can be planned at home. 

As children grow up the corner has to have space and facilities to have activities corresponding to the interests and abilities of a child. 

This space is also a meeting place for parents and children to engage in play activity. Most children welcome the privacy of this space and feel included in the setting of home, where father and mother also have their private spaces. 

It is one way of acknowledging and affirming the child from early childhood, which in some instances  became therapeutic to children. Those who felt the traction towards TV or mobile phone began to engage in activities in the Child's corner. Some children moved out of their hyperkinetic or restless behaviour. Parents became nearer to their children emotionally through the habit of being with them in play at the Child's corner. 

I have a desire that a Child's corner ought to be part of a design of every home! 

Once the Child's corner is created, it is good to involve the child or children to plan for the organisation and decoration of the space. 

A child's corner creates an identity of belonging, making a child feel valued and become integrated to the home environment! 

According to Eric Ericson's psycho-social formation of a child, autonomy and initiative are essential aspirations of early childhood, which need authentication and acceptance in every home. 

The child's corner is an expression of parent's intent to give momentum to the formation to a child!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)