What Can You Do With a Basement?

​A dingy, dusty basement…You know…that place where you whisk downstairs to, to pick up whatever tool, broom, miscellaneous thing you might need that’s stored there. It’s dark, it’s damp, nothing aesthetically pleasing about the place…..
 
But wait! There is a way to create something in this space that is actually CHARMING, even MAGICAL, something that every kid would want to race to in the morning and long to return to later in the day. Take a look:

​Voila! A space for kids that is inviting, sooo….much fun, kicks in lots of learning that’s well disguised in the materials/games/old toys, and more.  And what’s the cost for this reimagined play space….next to nothing!
 
Here’s a closer look:

​A length of old sheets hides all the “stuff” you store in your basement so it is out of sight. Birds cut from construction paper, taped to lengths of strings, and highlighted with safely hung, inexpensive battery-powered lights found in most discount chain stores, make a wall look exciting, mysterious, and fun.
An old chest filled with cardboard boxes and packaging saved from all those trips you take to the grocery store, or order online, provides the inspiration for kid-creations of all kinds—just add some tape/glue/bits of construction paper/pipe cleaners, and whatever other materials might make this activity more inviting and watch what kids create here—truly magical!

​An empty rectangular box in the background is easily converted into a stable for a host of horses –while a bag of paper shreds makes the best “hay!(see in background near stairs). Another box (far left and seen in first photo) serves as a perfect “refrigerator” for items needed for "cooking" at the table. 

That old sofa you keep in the basement works as a great place to play board games, explore books, and work with small building/constructions sets, work on puzzles, etc.. These materials can be stored for easy access in old shelving units or containers placed nearby.

 So you get the picture! Take a second look at the supplies you have, those containers you toss that might be useful for art projects and more, the things you may have stored (old planters, tables, easels, drying racks (in this case an accordion-style drying rack hung from ceiling beams horizontally for an indoor flower garden made of pinwheels!) that can be recycled when shared in this kind of magical space…the possibilities are endless and the joy is just waiting for you!!