Hello Educators, how can you make small changes to your home daycare to achieve the greatest impact? You are a home daycare provider – you pour alot of love and energy into your space daily. Little hearts and minds grow, learn, and feel safe in your environment. Have you ever felt overwhelmed with all the items you have in your home? Do you seek to create a calm and inviting environment? Believe me when I say, I was right where you are. Some years ago and decided to make small changes within my environment. Those small changes over time made the biggest impact, tamed my overwhelm and adjusted my self-care. A thoughtfully organized space helps children feel secure and engaged and helps me stay grounded and joyful in my work. I’d love to share a few tips that have made a huge difference for us.
My home daycare space before and after the transformation
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Embrace a Calming Color Palette
In our classroom, I’ve chosen a soft brown and white theme accented with the gentle greens of indoor plants. This palette helps soothe the rambunctious energy of the children. Consider calm, neutral tones if you want to transform your room. In addition to the color of your walls, try adding rugs that are simple yet not boring —a simple black and white rug, like the one we have, can tie everything together while still being playful.
Tip: Choose colors that make YOU feel calm and happy. Your space should reflect the vibes you want for your family and yourself and the mood you want to create for the children in your care.
Children playing on the black and white rug mentioned in this post
Bring Nature Inside
Consider adding some live plants or dried flowers to your space. In our classroom, greenery plays a big role. During winter, when the hues outside are gray with no sun, the plants inside help lift our moods. The children love watching the leaves grow and even help with watering. Bringing nature inside the classroom helps lift the mood of the space, and it also helps us connect with nature and brighten our days.
Tip: Start with easy-to-care-for plants like succulents or spider plants. Place them where children can see and even help care for them. It’s a wonderful way to teach responsibility and mindfulness. If you don’t have a green thumb, consider buying faux plants – you can get many plants from Ikea, Home Goods, Target, Etsy, and Amazon, to name a few places.
Here is an example of how we bring nature in our classroom.
Create a Sense of Belonging with a Family Wall
One of the most cherished areas in our classroom is the family wall. Here, we have pictures of the children with their families, reminding us how important family connection is to the school and vice versa – we are a community. This wall is a daily reminder that we’re all connected and that this space belongs to each child who enters it.
Tip: Encourage families to bring in photos for your family wall. Educate them that you will make a collage of the piece by cutting and gluing the pictures, which will help them send copies, not originals. It helps children feel valued and seen, creating a stronger sense of belonging.
This is our family wall, I adjusted the picture quality for privacy.
Simplify and Declutter Regularly
Let’s be honest—our daycare space can get messy. Operating with mixed-age children and different developmental needs can create a bigger r mess than anticipated, literally and figuratively. But a cluttered space often leads to a cluttered mind. I make it a point to declutter our classroom regularly. Shelves and baskets are my best friends for keeping things tidy. What helps is asking the children where the items belong and tidying as we go, after play, before nap, and before they leave for the day. However, the big declutter. We have a place for everything, which helps me and the children feel more relaxed and focused.
Tip: Dedicate a few minutes each day to tidying up. Involve the children in sorting and organizing—it can be a fun game for them and a stress reliever for you.
Childcare art activity with my kiddos
Choose Toys that Reflect Your Values
Our space has a mix of natural and plastic toys, each chosen intentionally. I believe in offering toys that spark creativity, encourage problem-solving, and are safe for little hands. I also limit the number of toys available at any one time, rotating them regularly to keep things fresh and engaging. I also know some agencies ask that children have access to various toys at once, but a small home with abundant toys out at once can create clutter and overwhelm.
Tip:
- Focus on quality over quantity.
- Choose toys that align with your values and bring joy to your children.
- Remember, it’s not about having the most—it’s about having what matters
Children activity using clay
Conclusion – Your Space, Your Sanctuary
Your daycare space is a reflection of you—your values, your love, and your dedication. Making changes one small step at a time – even the smallest adjustment, as discussed by adding a plant or rearranging a shelf, can create calm that influences you and the children.
Creating a thriving environment will help you feel less overwhelmed. I hope these tips will inspire you to look at your space with fresh eyes.
If you’d like more ideas on transforming your daycare space and creating a calm, inviting environment, download this free guide
5 Steps to Free You From Burnout
Stay inspired and take care of yourself as you care for others. You’re doing incredible work; your space is a beautiful reflection of that love – I am Miss Sue, your educator in the trenches with you.
