Designing Kid Friendly Spaces: Simple Changes for a Better Experience

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:49:56 -0500

Designing Kid-Friendly Spaces: Simple Changes for a Better Experience

I am a mother of 3 (currently 5, 9, and 11), and have been through some of the major hurdles of early childhood with my kids and visited many farms with kids at various ages. Kids are difficult as it is without extra hurdles making life more difficult. So I have compiled a list of considerations to design with kids and families in mind to make you space and life that much easier.

Children up to 15 make up 25% of the population so they are worth paying attention to! They live here too and it is empowering to make them feel like it’s their spaces too!

No curbs or steps. I’m past the stroller stage now, but barriers for strollers was a pain. So when you can avoid curbs, ledges, and steps whenever possible. Also provide automatic door openers not just the code minimum at the front door, but throughout the common entrances.

Lower sinks, soap, and paper tower dispensers – Please lower the sinks and paper towel dispensers in your washrooms. They don’t all need to be kids height but at least 1 or all a little lower so that my 4’ tall 5 year old can wash her hands without me lifting her up! This applies to soap, paper towel and hand dryers too.

Places for parents to sit and watch – If you have a play area that is too small for Mom and Dad to participate, please provide a few benches. Not 1 but a few so we can all take a rest and let our kids explore.

Fenced in areas for smaller kids – some play areas that are designed for smaller kids or have hidden sides. Please put a fence around it so kids can’t escape by accident. Or one farm we visited had only 1 entrance to the play castle to ensure kids couldn’t wander off by accident or get lost.

Snack areas (you need to allow parents to bring their own food)

Washrooms close and often. A 1 kilometer walk back to the washroom isn’t going to cut it for the toddler who is learning or early potty trained. Provide smaller washrooms more often to reduce accidents. Accidents cause parents to want to leave and spend less money and time at your venue.

Free play sandbox-like toys. Free play toys have shown to engage children. Sandbox toys are toys like your corn pits, blocks, generic play structures (with less use specific features), such as CoPlay, etc.

Larger washroom stalls. Young kids often need help, can’t lock doors, and just don’t want to be alone in the washroom. So providing larger dimension stall for parent and young kids to be in there together.

They don’t need to be as big as the barrier free stall, but just larger than the minimum stall size that barely allows the door to open while 1 person is in it.

Change tables in both mom and dad gendered washrooms. I think this is probably getting more common, but Mom and Dad need access to childcare. I hated as a mom that when kids needed changing I couldn’t send my husband to do that job because there wasn’t likely a change table in the mens room.

Alternatively you can provide family washrooms or nursing/baby care rooms with sinks but not toilets.

If you are a more adult oriented venue like a winery or brewery. A simple addition is a collection of games and tables for families to enjoy your place. You can also add a play area nearby the patio. These can expand your market a little wider.

You may have noticed that many of these suggestions are also close to barrier free requirements. They need of these two people segments are similar, so yes designing for kids also makes your space more wheelchair accessible too!

All the ideas make your Agritourism destination that much easier. You may not get compliments, or credit for the little things, but the smoothness of the visit for your guests will bring them back over and over and they will recommend to you to their friends.

These are some general ideas, and the specifics to get it right are important. VELD architect spends the thinking time needed to get these details right for you. Contact us for a free call to learn about working with us on your next project.

Book a Free Call to Get More Ideas for your Farm!

How to Design Kid Friendly Spaces for your House

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:48:02 -0500

Designing a Kid-Friendly Home: Smart Tips for a Happy, Functional Space

Children up to 15 make up 25% of the population so they are worth paying attention to! They live here too and it is empowering to make them feel like it’s their spaces too!

Lower Light switches.

There is no particular standard for electrical switch heights, so why not put them a little lower. This allows kids the opportunity to turn off their light on their own everyday (hope springs eternal). It allows them to go up to their room and get something on their own even when its dark and scary because they can reach the light switch! Saving you the 100th climb up the stairs today!

Extra counter space in a downstairs washroom for changing.

Most of us put a change table in the babies room, but for most of us we spend our time downstairs and every change is a run up the stairs. Adding a few extra feet to the main floor washroom can save us those few extra runs upstairs with a baby or toddler in hand (unless you need the exercise regime!)

A mud/laundry sink –

Kids love mess and play and its good for them. Embracing the mess is easier when you have ability to clean up easier. So put a large tub sink that can get messy and out of the way is super handy for lots of purposes, paint, mud, stains, soaking, etc.

Use Lever door handles.

Instead of knob handles which then need a child protection plastic cover use lever handles. No coordination, no skill anyone can use them. Unless you want them to stay in a room, like a front door or bedroom for nap time. So you can be selective or add locks to particular off limit doors.

Self closing screens on doors!

Stop letting the flies in! Using a self closing screen door or even closers on certain doors can ensure that kids close the door behind their tiny bums! And you won’t have to live in a barn (unless it’s a barn house)

Lots of storage and cubbies and places for things to go away.

This seems obvious and I could make a very long list of storage needs (and maybe I will.. ) But you will likely need more than you think.

Snacks, fridges, pantries are reachable heights –

Another way to encourage independence is to move snacks to lower shelves so kids can feed themselves. Obviously don’t put the chips and unhealthy choices within reach, but give them ability to choose and learn to listen to their needs and fill them. Some fridges have lower compartments for fridge space rather than freezer, you can use for fresh fruit and veggies.

Tub with spill protection.

You all probably have memories of splashing in the tub and Mom or Dad yelling to stop making the mess. Well you can embrace that childhood memory and the mess with a wet room. Put your bathtub in the shower space or in a wet room or allow spillable access to a drain. This will just make everyone happier!

Windows and view to play areas.

Make sure the spaces you often work in, like the kitchen or office have a view to the kids play area or even a door. This can give kids independence and a peace of mind for parents.

Play areas in protected areas –

make sure play areas have shade and wind protection. If the space is comfortable for kids they will more likely head out on their own.

Separate space for kids –

having a space that is separate for mess, noise and clutter is nice to have. It's even better if its closer to main spaces like the kitchen. When my kids were younger (and still), like to play close to where I am working so the toys do tend to migrate into the main spaces more than I like.

Tall space –

Having 1 tall space gives you some fun options for your kids. You can put an indoor climbing wall, a swing, silks, monkey bars, raised fort.

Lower sinks –

We all know the struggles of bedtime routines. How about add some independence for them and you at an earlier stage. Lower a portion of the counter and lower the sink height. Give them their space and they will feel more in control of themselves.

And just for a little fun, have a circle for kids to run around (preferably that avoids the kitchen)! When I was a lid we had an old farmhouse but a circle, through the kitchen, corner of the living room up the stairs through the hall, through my parents bedroom, and down and around again. It was great. Barn house 1 has a “cube” we can run around.

You may have noticed that many of these suggestions are also close to barrier free requirements. These suggestions are very helpful for aging in place. As you become less mobile, many of these techniques will come back to extend the time you can live in your dream home.

Although many of these things your kids may outgrow, they will make the earlier years easier and encourage independence sooner in life. Kids need to feel that their house is their space as well. A small gesture to help them not feel like they aren’t just living in an adult world.

These are some general ideas, and the specifics to get it right are important. VELD architect spends the thinking time needed to get these details right for you!

Book a Free Call to Get More Ideas for your Farm!

VELD architect - Blog #kids

Designing Kid Friendly Spaces: Simple Changes for a Better Experience