This is an example
How do I turn this table into a toddler eating/play station?
by
Cathy
+16
I want this to be a table where my toddler can sit down to eat and play on a bead wire activities. Also add the ABCs around the edge or possibly include stickers of different animals. The stickers or ABCs should probably be sealed some way to ensure he doesn’t pull the stickers off. I want to use child friendly paint.
Example of a bead wire activity, however, I do not want but 2 or 3 .
This is the table I already have and want to use
So do you already have a table? Do you have the stuff to make the table? Id worry about where you can buy the parts. In our city we have a few stores that resale used children's stuff only. Like toys, playpen, furniture.... May want to check it out for parts or for that very table. All paint today is child friendly. Cute table.
You can cover the whole thing with clear contact paper. Are you asking how to put more wire and beads ?
I would wash it really well and let him play with it as is. Or remove the parts that have small parts he could choke on and add a food portion there.
Hello there, Seems to me you already have a vision of what you want, so start with the background and build it up step by step using sticky back plastic cut out to suit your purposes. Have fun.......
You could strip it and stencil images onto it then seal it.
It would be fun for the kids if you let them put their handprints(different colors for each set) on the top ,after filling the holes with wood putty and putting a fresh coat of paint ,then seal the hand prints with a clear coat of either spray on or water based polyurethane
Maybe go to a hardware store with pictures on hand and show them your idea. They can probably advise you on what type of wire would work well for this (bending into shape). Hopefully you can get it already rubber coated so you may not have to paint the wire. The little blocks of wood the end wires go into would be simple enough to replicate. It might be better if the wires went all the way thru to the bottom of block to ensure they don’t come out. Add your beads (get just about anywhere like hobby stores, Walmart). Drill a hole big enough in each block for wire to slip thru. A simple screw should hold it tight underneath. Other decorative touches have been offered above. I love the kids handprints around the edges idea.
My suggestion is to clean up the table, paint, seal, etc, and NOT add the wire/bead to the tabletop! Not only will the wires limit the available tabletop space and uses, but it will stifle your child’s creativity. You can buy toy cubes (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MOPKP36/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1) or trays (https://www.thetot.com/product/hape-original-supermaze/?tot-i18n-country=US&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlrWm2q3f3wIVRZnVCh1aUAFVEAQYBiABEgI9Q_D_BwE) with the wires and beads, shoelaces and beads, and so on. When not being played with they can be put away leaving a larger, uncluttered, space for eating, drawing, painting, and doing all the creative things kids love to do😊.
I agree with those who say not to add the wire to the table!
Kids do outgrow that quite quickly but do love to have tiny furniture for a long time! If you really want the wire maze, do it so that it's on a piece of wood that's removable - I think it would become a huge mess to let a toddler both play with it and eat at the same time!
Sand down the table, fill the holes and paint it white for a nice clean start.
Lay out what you'd like on the table with simple paper cutouts at first. Once you know what you want, colors and placement you can then put permanent stickers on. This allows you to change any paint first, if you want.
Have fun!
Good luck! 😎