I couldn’t figure out why my daughter rarely played in her room, and when she did, the place was a wreck and it was a battle to clean it up.  She kept bringing things out of her room and finding places throughout the rest of the house to play in.  I’d find piles of toys behind curtains, under tables, in corners and strewn throughout the house.  So I decided to re-evaluate her space.  Nice size room; pretty pink color on the walls; lots and lots (and lots) of toys, dolls, books and clothes; bookcases; cd player, computer, dollhouse, train table, chalkboards, magnet boards, posters, art supplies, fish tank, a desk and more . . . what else could a little girl want?  So why didn’t she like it?

The answer was determined by a serious evaluation and observation of her in the space, as well as by just asking her. Here’s what I found out:

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