Tell us a little about @beija.mao. My name is Vanessa and I’m a former middle school teacher, turned stay at home mother of two beautiful little boys.  Aside from creating education activities for my children, I love photography, home decorating and binging television far too late into the night.

What was the inspiration behind your home learning space? Our entire home is designed to fulfill the needs of everyone who lives here, including our children. You’ll find that our children have opportunities to live and successfully navigate every room in our home.

Our homeschool/playroom was a big focus in designing.  I wanted a place where my kids could play freely through hands-on child led activities, jump deeply into imaginative play,  be able to activate their gross motor skills and also have a quiet nook to nestle in to read and learn.  With that being said, ECR4kids has allowed this space to come alive with their functional, yet beautiful designs.

Tell us about the ECR4Kids items you’ve incorporated into your space. We currently own three shelving units and a front facing bookshelf.  I’ve been eyeing so many other beautiful pieces that would fit the decorative vision I have and still allow my children their independence with play.

How do toy rotations play a role in your space? My boys love the ability to see the toys and books that are available during this rotation and the ability to easily put the items back in their spots. ECR4kids were really thoughtful with children in mind when designing the height and accessibility of their furniture.

What are your storage and organization secrets! I’d be lying if I said our playroom was completely organized.  We have beautiful pieces for storage and typically rotate the boys’ toys in and out.  But, this is real life.  There are days when the entire room is turned upside down and others when we have everything in its place.  I personally love how versatile the pieces we own are.  The color and sleek design opens the possibility to use the furniture we have for years to come.

What is your philosophy when it comes to play? When it comes to my children and play I believe that it is imperative to a child’s development to be able to follow what interests them instead of interests being placed upon them. With that being said, my role as a mom for them is to provide them with opportunities to grow, learn, thrive and love.

My favorite activity to do with my boys is to snuggle up and read with them.  We are all big book lovers and it’s something we enjoy doing together. SO much can be learned through simply reading, we can navigate the deepest oceans, fly over to other continents or get lost in a magical land.  Language, math, sciences, social studies, civics, morals, cultures, acceptance, beliefs, kindness, respect and more can be discovered through a book.

Get to know more about Vanessa here!