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    Home » Home Learning Spaces for Kids

    Published: Jul 23, 2021 · Modified: Jul 10, 2023 by Fynn · All activities should be supervised by an adult. This post may contain affiliate links.

    Why you absolutely need big trays in your Home Learning Space

    Inside: Where to buy big trays and why you need them in your Home Learning Space.

    What is one of the most used items in our Home Learning Space?

    No, it's not paint. Not even the crayons.

    My answer is going to surprise you. It's trays, BIG trays!

    We have 4 big trays at home and they are used by my children almost every day. Whenever they want to work on anything potentially messy, like paint, play dough or cutting paper, they will pick up a big tray.

    Related: You'll need big trays for this handprint colour mixing activity!

    Children painting and making art at table in a room
    Jump to:
    • Why you need big trays in your Home Learning Space
    • Where to buy big trays
    • Activities using big trays

    Why you need big trays in your Home Learning Space

    I highly recommend big trays in your Home Learning Space because:

    • they are one of the easiest and most efficient ways to contain mess. Think of a tray as a catch-all bag for all the messy paint and sticky play dough.
    • the bigger the tray, the more allowance it has for children to move things around and still stay within the boundaries of the tray. This is especially helpful for young children, because their motor skills are not developed enough to keep within a small boundary.
    • a big tray provides sufficient space to hold all the materials like paper, paint cups, palette in one spot.
    • big trays make clean up easy too. When children are done with their activity or project, you can simply carry the tray with all the brushes, paint cups to the bathroom for washing.
    Toddler painting on a big tray
    • big trays are wonderful for siblings to work together on a project together. My girls enjoy playing with play dough together, and this tray is big enough for both children to knead and cut their dough together.
    • at the same time, big trays work well to demarcate clear workspaces when multiple children are doing the activity together.
    • children can also keep any work-in-progress on these big trays and return to work on their activity or project later.
    Two children playing with play dough on a big tray

    Where to buy big trays

    The following content contain affiliate links.

    These are some of my favorite big trays.

    1) Winco Brand Plastic White Tray

    Dimensions: 46 x 66 cm

    2) Ikea Klack Tray

    Dimensions: 38 by 58 cm

    3) Ikea Smula Tray

    Dimensions: 35 by 52 cm

    Grab a big tray now, this is a game changer!

    Activities using big trays

    • Multi-Sensory Activities for Letter Formation
    • Symmetry Christmas Tree Painting
    • Spider Symmetry Painting
    • The Snail and the Whale Invitation to Create

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      Happy Learning Space by Tiffany from 2mamas4kids
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    About Fynn

    Fynn is a Math and Science teacher from Singapore, author of The Happy Learning Book for Siblings and founder of Happy Tot Shelf. She helps parents enjoy home learning with their children through her highly popular kids' activity membership, The Happy Learners' Club. Fynn has been featured in various newspapers, websites and on radio shows as an expert in early childhood learning and creative hands-on learning ideas.

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    Hi there! I’m Fynn—educator, author, and mom of three. I believe a lifelong love of learning starts at home, and I’m here to help you nurture that spark. Together, let’s create joyful learning experiences that strengthen bonds and inspire curiosity for both you and your little ones!

    More about me →

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