Are you a tidy-it-away mum or have-it-on-show mum?

Question

When it comes to your child, and their things, are you a mum that prefers to keep your childs things in your childs room, or a mum that likes have things of her childs throughout the house? (Not in an untidy way!). We've been looking at new houses, and it just occured to me that it some there are no clues that children live there until you enter their bedroom, whereas in others (including our own) there are signs in every room - paintings on the fridge, photos, toys, highchairs etc. Which kind of mum are you?

Answer 1

I prefer the Have-it-on-show houses, because then I can be in the kitchen doing dishes or somethiing and the kid can be playing a few feet away. I'm a babysitter, and i consider it part of my job to be near the kid the whole time. I never allow them to play outside without me, and i don't want to spend the whole time in the kids room.

Answer 2

We have toys all over the house!  We have a section in the main floor living rooms with baskets for his toys and books.  A highchair in the kitchen, and a huge playroom in the basement all for this toys.  

Thats the kind I am.  

Yes, it was nice once upon a time when there was not stuff everywhere, but this way, he has stuff the play with everywhere. I am willling to forgo a little decorating and perfect household for my child.

Answer 3

Until they started school, i let my children have toys in the front room. After that i made the rule to start to claim the front room back. To compensate all pictures/reward stickers ect where put up on cupboard doors in kitchen and things like that. Everything in appropriate stages accourding to the home you live in i suppose!

Answer 4

all my childrens toys are in their room or in there tidy box outside and we have photographs of our children in the living room.

Answer 5

Photos, pictures, toy cars to break your ankles on, thats my home and i love it! Dont get me wrong, its clean and tidy ( at the end of the day ) but i have 2 litttle boys and a third on the way, their kids and they want to play, im not going to confine them to their bedrooms to play. Although i do have an extension on the back of the house which is used as a play room which leeds into the garden so all of the downstairs toys go in there when i tidy up so i can have a clean lounge at the end of the day, lol. x*x

Answer 6

I run a  home daycare and I have one room (the dining room) that is actually our 'daycare' room.  That room is all about the kids.  My children keep their personal things in their room, but this daycare room is full of toys and art materials that are free at hand always.  Anyone who comes into my house can see that it is a home for children , but overall, I prefer not to have toys and things in my main living area.

Answer 7

nope - their stuff is in their room once i tidy up

it's a boundary thing and it teaches them to tidy up after themselves

(it's more of a treat when they have the big toys out - otherwise it's not special)

Answer 8

Our baby has her own shelf for her books on the bottom of our bookshelf. She has her "corner" with her toy box and a few other things that won't fit in the box (lol) in the living room.  Her toys are piled up at the corner of the bath. I personally like having her stuff in each room so she (and we) feel she is part of the family and that her things are just as important as mummy's and daddy's. Also, I like the reminder of her when she's in bed. Sounds silly but that's just me :)

Answer 9

definitely a  "have-it-on-show mum". most of everything is in the playroom, but it's open (and constantly messy, lol) with just a gate...no door. Bella's first piece of "art" is framed and hanging in our foyer.  i always find toys and such all over the house though.

Answer 10

I try and keep a balance with this. I believe their toys should be in their room, but we also have a play area set up in our sunroom for them. I have my fridge plastered with paintings and drawings from my son and daughter. In our living room we have a wall devoted to family photos of everyone. Do have some of their photos around the house and in everyone's bedroom.

I do not mind if my children bring their toys out and play in the family room, but when they are done playing I have taught them to put their toys back. It keeps their toys together, in good shape, will not get broken or scattered around the house so someone can walk on it (those army guys can really cut the bottom of your feet, lol).

Answer 11

most of my kids toys are in their bedrooms because they like to play upstairs when they have friends round.

they do have a big box of toys in the living room too and paints, crayons and playdoh etc are kept on a shelf in the dining room so they are easy to get to when we are doing things at the table.

they also have toys in the bathroom to play with at bathtime.

I have many photos of my children dotted around downstairs and their artwork on my kitchen cupboards and fridge.

Answer 12

I have my daughters things everywhere. Whats the point in tidying up if its only going to get messed up in 5minutes. If someone important is coming over though I tidy up alot lol.

Answer 13

This is a great question!!!!

My home is very clean and theres a spot for everything, we have the kids keep there things in there room and all toys are either ones that go outside and the ones that gon inside are to stay in the toyroom bar the small basket of baby toys upstairs for the baby. I hate stuff on my fridge I don't even have a magnet on there.....but we have a cute tack board on the pantry door and it holds there scedules and artwork and such, but it's kinda on the smaller side. I like order in the house wand when the kids stuff is everywhere it feels choatic.......the only way someone would know we have kids when coming through is like I mentioned before the small basket of toys wich is tucked neatly behind the couch and the tack board if they notice it and I'm terrible about keeping the wipes on the counter! Otherwise everything esle is in it's spot or tucked in a cabnet or cupboard and in their rooms.

Oh I forgot I have a high chair/ booster chair combo thing on a chair in the corner of the dinning room

Answer 14

I bet some of those people have tidies their kids things away as they are selling and think it will look better. Personally, I keep a number of big plain wooden boxes around the ground floor andf these are for toys...in the day they are all over the place (toys) but at night it is grown up time and they are packed away.

Answer 15

Have it on show mom. I have toys in the family room corner, but also in a cabinet in the living room (can't see it).  Of course their rooms too.  When I was a kid, we had this huge closet in the family room with shelves to the ceiling with toys and a big built-in toy chest that my dad built.  You can stash all the toys from the family room in there and not be able to tell children live there.  I wish I had that in our house.  Mostly it's my toddler's toys, so just a few more years and I'll have my space again.

Answer 16

My kids are 6 and 8 so no highchairs or bouncy seats.  I do have drawings and pictures on the fridge and I do have pictures in my living room.  But as far as toys, my kids can bring them out while they are playing but as soon as they are done playing, the toys go back to the bedroom.  They know if they don't put them away, I take them and they have to pay me to get them back.

Answer 17

tidy away in the play room mummy i hate stuff in every room

Answer 18

i personally like things to be tidy and in place.

this is very hard though as i have 2 little 1's. they prefer to have their things all over the place, but dont stress sometimes its better to leave things the way they want.

Answer 19

I have two young boys and every room including mine as some full on show of me having children. I have thier playstation at the side of my bed. Kitchen breakfast table is a worktop for thier colouring ect. Bathroom has a box of toys. My living room has a corner full of toys and a storage box ..

Sometimes I think Grrr .. but they are my children, my life but more importantly thier house also.