Today's energetic families need ways to be active and have fun together without just “vegging out.” Save movie night for Saturday. Tonight, get busy in the Ultimate Family Room – one that allows your active family to reconnect in fun new ways.
Think Outside the Box
Forget sofas. Your décor will be a hit with the addition of some unusual seating. Try suspending a swing or two from the ceiling of your family room (yes, swings indoors!). Be sure to anchor them securely to support beams. Ikea offers a line of swings that are perfect for use both inside and outside.
Or hang a rope ladder (also available at Ikea) above a mountain of pillows in a climbing area. Oversized beanbags and floor cushions make excellent landing pads. Add a slide like Little Tikes Easy Store Large Slide to maximize the fun.
For even more adventurous families, Rachel Mallon, an interior decorator from Portland, Ore., suggests building a climbing wall as the ultimate way to express your family’s energetic spirit. Choose colorful climbing holds just for kids and make climbing a family affair. (See our sidebar for details about what’s involved in constructing your own climbing wall.)
If an indoor climbing wall exceeds the limits of your space, you can encourage active play with all sizes of exercise balls and tumbling mats. Put a child-friendly sound system nearby, and stock it with groove-inspiring music to get kids moving. Stack a big set of soft blocks in one corner of the tumbling area to see what structures the kids can create.
Find out more tips for creating the ultimate family room in the current issue of Family Energy!
