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  • Welcome
    • our facility
    • Policies
  • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Educators
  • Our Program
    • Our History
    • outdoor program >
      • International Mud Day
      • Environmental Learning & Sustainability
    • Learning Environments >
      • Hummingbird Room
      • Chickadee Room
      • budgie room
      • Robin Room
      • Owl Room
      • Eagle Room
      • Falcons (Before and After Program)
    • Partnerships
  • Blog
  • GALLERY
    • Curiosity, Wonder & Joy
    • children's creations
    • Falcon Club Highlights
  • Resources
    • Links & Interesting Articles
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
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Dollhouse Renovation

5/6/2020

3 Comments

 
Blog written by: Rosel
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​One of our families generously donated a wooden barn to the centre. The toy alternated between a barn and a dollhouse. For the latter, plastic furniture and dolls were added. The house became a fantastic addition to the Chickadee room and used not only by the Chickadees and Infants, but by the older children towards the end of the day. Overtime, the children’s interest in the house waned, reducing the house as merely daycare space filler. For the house to encourage play and support learning for children of all ages, a renovation was overdue.
The first step was deciding on a layout. The goal was to design something both familiar and whimsical, a toy that children related to but slightly sprinkled with fantasy elements. Due to the Chickadees’ interest in imaginative play like caring for babies while the older children enjoyed taking on family roles, I chose to create a home. The house allowed them to explore that play on a smaller scale and from a different perspective. The house included spaces that were possibly found in children’s homes while the attic served as an indoor playground.
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​The second step was to design the house. I used leftover paint and contact paper for the walls and floor.  Most of the furniture and decorations were created with various loose parts like Jenga blocks, dominoes, wooden containers, wood cookies, cubes, glass vials, old jewelry, calendar photos, and scrap wood. The items were embellished with white paint, contact paper, spices, and other craft materials. Flexible items were also constructed like a refrigerator to store loose parts, light fixtures, a tire swing, and even a moving toilet.
The last step was to find a spot in the room to place the house. A space with ample room for children to play yet provided a comfortable setting. I created a cozy area by elevating the floor with gym mats and a carpet near the window. The corner also included quiet materials like puzzles, books, and pillows. On the first day I reintroduced the dollhouse, the last two children at daycare immediately gravitated towards it and played together.
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​What started out as wanting a dollhouse for the children to play with turned into reflecting what children value and deserve. After tapping into my inner child, the environment has changed to foster more language, divergent thinking, social skills, and emotional development for all ages. Children deserve durable materials that are aesthetically pleasing, provoke learning, inviting, and encourages children to interact with one another. Quality materials can be as simple as scrap wood or an old box. Just like children who easily utilize their creativity and imagination, adults can too. Doing so can generate a positive learning environment and most importantly, plenty of fun!
Music: “Pure Imagination” by Rook1e
3 Comments
Bhakti link
1/14/2022 02:02:04 am

Hey Rosel,

This is a wonderful idea for a wooden dollhouse. I have old furniture which we are planning to sell anyway but I can make this dollhouse craft for my daughter. I think it's a good idea to boost your kid's creativity as well. Thanks for this article!

Reply
Home renovation ideas link
6/28/2022 11:01:06 pm

Thank you for sharing this piece, very helpful and informative especially to those who are planning to work on a renovation project for their houses.
Really appreciate your effort in putting this guide together, I'll use it as resource in our blog post.

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Massachusetts Window Washers link
10/25/2022 07:19:55 am

Thank you for shariing

Reply



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Seven Oaks Child Day Care Centre is located on original lands of Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Mètis Nation.
We respect the Treaties that were made on the territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration. 
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