I have been running my daycare for a bit over 5 years now. The main daycare area has always been the basement, that is where the toys are, we do story time and take naps. When we do projects, we are upstairs in the kitchen at the table as it is a lot easier to clean up. It drives me crazy to be in the basement for a long period of time so we of course do lots of projects and spend as much time outdoors as possible. The children also seem to always want to bring the toys Upstairs! The basement is finished and in great condition. My question is WHY?? Why don't we like being in the basement, do I need to change something? I know a lot of people who run daycare out of their basements and don't have any problems.....I also use the "power saver" lights and it doesn't seem as bright. I guess I maybe need some ideas on how to "brighten up" the basement. Anybody that is in a basement, what are the main things you NEED to make it cheery?
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Daycare in Basement
Collapse
X
-
I use my finished basement for most of my daycare, except drop off, pick up, meals, snacks and naps. I have just one bucket of toys and books on the mail floor to keep them busy when kids are arriving or being picked up.
My kids run to the basement door when they arrive and cannot wait to get down there. I have 2 light fixtures and a lamp that I put on so the lighting is pretty bright. The shelves where I keep the fabric bins of toys are white and the laminate floor is light wood colored. There is a color blocked area rug on the floor. So furnishings and flooring brightens the room. There is not a window in the actual room, but there is a large window at the top of the stairs where they turn to go up a few steps to the main floor. I have an old kitchen table down there that the kids love to sit at to color and do playdough. I don't know if they like it so much down there because of all this or if it is something else, but this is how it looks.
I am pretty strict about none of the "downstairs" toys coming upstairs. So, they have learned pretty much (except for the youngest who likes to sneak little people up) all the most fun stuff is down there.
Don't know if any of this helps you, but I cannot think of anything else that affects my kids wanting to be in the basement or not.
- Flag
Comment
-
I am like you. I have the basement set up for daycare but I personally don't like staying down there all the time. We go outside and go upstairs (for meals and some crafts) just to mix things up. I can't handle being in one small room all day every day, even if the kids are happy down there.
- Flag
Comment
-
Daycare in Basement
Originally posted by saved4always View PostI use my finished basement for most of my daycare, except drop off, pick up, meals, snacks and naps. I have just one bucket of toys and books on the mail floor to keep them busy when kids are arriving or being picked up.
My kids run to the basement door when they arrive and cannot wait to get down there. I have 2 light fixtures and a lamp that I put on so the lighting is pretty bright. The shelves where I keep the fabric bins of toys are white and the laminate floor is light wood colored. There is a color blocked area rug on the floor. So furnishings and flooring brightens the room. There is not a window in the actual room, but there is a large window at the top of the stairs where they turn to go up a few steps to the main floor. I have an old kitchen table down there that the kids love to sit at to color and do playdough. I don't know if they like it so much down there because of all this or if it is something else, but this is how it looks.
I am pretty strict about none of the "downstairs" toys coming upstairs. So, they have learned pretty much (except for the youngest who likes to sneak little people up) all the most fun stuff is down there.
Don't know if any of this helps you, but I cannot think of anything else that affects my kids wanting to be in the basement or not.
Thanks for the few posts, they have given me ideas already!
- Flag
Comment
-
We have 1 egress window and I have one big wall a light yellow and the other walls a mint green (light) I tried painting lime colors, bright colors but that looked terrible!I see little people.
- Flag
Comment
-
Can you see anything out of the window? I know that if I don't open the curtains in the playroom for some reason, I go stir crazy. I have to be able to see trees or birds or cars driving by. It's too lonely otherwise. I'd never make it in a basement.
- Flag
Comment
-
Originally posted by Sunchimes View PostCan you see anything out of the window? I know that if I don't open the curtains in the playroom for some reason, I go stir crazy. I have to be able to see trees or birds or cars driving by. It's too lonely otherwise. I'd never make it in a basement.
- Flag
Comment
-
Mine is completely in my basement. The upstairs is completely off limits, except when the parents come in to drop off or pick up.
My rugs are very light colored carpet tiles. I have kid friendly throw rugs on top to delineate different areas.
My walls are painted a light aqua color, with white trim. I also have recessed lighting throughout, so it is very bright. We have three egree windows and a bulkhead that is closed of with a glass paned door. When the weather permits, I keep the bulkhead open to let in more light.
It is bright down there. I do go stir crazy, but that is mostly because I would rather be upstairs doing my family stuff. I have an assistant, so during naptime I come upstairs with my own two children and she stays down there.
It can be tough. When the weather is nice, we spend a lot of time outside, which definitely helps!
- Flag
Comment
-
I also am in the basement and struggle with the "stuck in the basement" feeling, although I'm lucky to have a full sized window and the same bulkhead/glass door set-up as another poster, so that helps with light. I've been experimenting with where to do napping, but we eat, diaper, and will eventually do toiletting up stairs, that helps too.
My question is about answering the door for parents at pick-up. Right now, I only have one child in addition to my own, and I clean up about 10 minutes before his parents arrive and we go play upstairs so we're on the main level when they come to pick up. I have an infant starting next week though, who will have an earlier pick-up time every day, and I don't want to do the same scenario for him only to do it an hour later for the other child.
What do other basement dwellers do in this situation? I'm comfortable letting parents let themselves in and come downstairs (I live in a very safe area, out in the country), but I wonder if that will make parents uncomfortable. I'd like to replace our bulkhead door with a more walk-in friendly door, so parents can just come right around the house, but we can't afford that project just yet.
Any ideas?
- Flag
Comment
-
Last year we installed 1 egress and that made all the difference. We also painted a light color. (Ice cream cone color)...kind of a khaki color but lighter and brighter.
We also replaced all the old florescent lighting and installed recessed lights. They are bright and we have them on different switches to I can have them all on or only a few of them on. It works wonderfully.
- Flag
Comment
-
Originally posted by Childminder View PostMaybe it is the paint colors. The colors you are using a colors used in fast food restaurants to subconsciously hurry people or push people in and out quickly. Offensive colors. I know painting it again would be a pain but a color with warmth to it might help, gold more than yellow, beige or tan also. Olive green or something with red tones to it? Possibly some of the "daylight" bulbs would help.
Maybe mix some traditional warm bulbs in with the energy efficient bulbs for more a homey vs. institutional feel...? Personally mint green reminds me of doctors offices/hospitals/government buildings so I'd go with a warm light butter color.
What colors/lighting/textures are used in the rooms upstairs that everybody gravitates to?
- Flag
Comment
Comment