Encourage Your Kid's Imagination

There is hardly anything that you can't find on the market today that is kid-sized and made just like the adult version. There are toys that are used to teach kids how to cook, clean, and drive a car just like Mommy or Daddy's! There is also a wide variety of child-sized furniture that looks just like the real thing. Not only do these toys help teach kids about the responsibilities of normal adult life, they also give them the opportunity to use their imaginations and create make believe play.

There is nothing kids enjoy more than imitating their parents. By providing your child with a place of his or her own where he can eat and enjoy refreshments with friends when they visit, it will give them the opportunity to entertain on their own level. Many children also enjoy meals with imaginary friends or their stuffed animals and dolls with whom they can talk about anything!

If your child has a play kitchen where "pretend" meals are fixed, then having a dining area nearby to serve their culinary creations is a great way for them to complete the adventure. Whether they enjoy their real food or imagine dining on play food, they will likely spend hours pretending they are working hard in a real kitchen.

A dining area will also give them the versatility to put their furniture to use for many other activities. A flat surface isn't always easy to find when it's time for art work and trying to color in the floor just doesn't have the same appeal as using your very own furniture that is the right size for you.

One of the best ways to keep games and puzzles out of the floor is by providing a more convenient and out-of-the-way place for them instead. Just remember that the simpler it is, the better it will work. Puzzle tables that have sections that lift out of them or those with the ABC carved into them may seem like a good idea, but they aren't going to be very easy to use for playing or eating on and they won't be entertaining for very long. Think of providing them with a flat, simple place that is just for them to create on.

You can also get your kids their own outdoor dining area where they can entertain their friends the next time you have guests over for a barbecue. The little ones will enjoy their privacy and you will have more room at the grown-up table. There are also some available that have an umbrella so that they can stay cool in the shade.

Get your kids' imaginations running while you keep them off the floor. The best way to make sure they take advantage of their own space is to provide them with all the accessories to make it work for them. For dining, provide them with child sized dishes and paper, scissors, and markers or crayons for art time.