By Patrick Butters
Scripps Howard News Service
Kidspace Idea Book. By Wendy A. Jordan (The Taunton Press, $24.95.)
Would that we all could afford the elaborate playrooms, bathrooms and kitchens -- let alone gargantuan tree houses -- featured in this paperback. Yet the ideas brought forth in its 169 pages are worth giving it a good look. Even better, sit down with your kids and leaf through this appealing book and see if you can share some ideas.
One of the best points author Wendy A. Jordan makes in regard to designing a child's room is when she advises parents "to try to think as a kid thinks. Watch kids in action to get their ideas, too."
Better yet, why not ask them directly?
The rooms depicted here are brightly colored, with lots of outside light, and dotted with toys in nooks and crannies. (Too bad at least one photo didn't show toy pieces scattered everywhere and piles of clothing hanging from light fixtures, just for the sake of reality.) Some of the better ideas include a playroom converted into three spaces: a loft, an open playroom and then a snug alcove surrounded by bookcases. It looks like a fun nest in which to read Goodnight Moon or Green Eggs and Ham.
This is the kind of ingenuity folks need to use when living with kids. Don't just toss them in a room: Find a way to maximize the space and make it fun -- and educational -- at the same time.
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