Designing environments for children take a lot of time. It isn’t just thinking of new ideas, it is also thinking about how to change the environment and keeping individual spaces fresh and interesting. So, once you have an idea for a new space or a new look for an existing space, lots of energy and resources go into the design and implementation. It becomes very discouraging when the children never visit the area or become engaged in the activity. So how do you create an environment that is both engaging, supports the child’s development and has a learning component? Most early care provider have the typical centers such as dramatic play, art center, block area and a reading center. While these centers are the mainstay of childcare, they can become very stale and unexciting. It is what you place in those centers and how you advertise what it’s in those centers that helps engage children into the play within those centers.
Rotating materials within these centers helps keep interest and engagement high. If the books never change or the art supplies are always the same, why visit it? Even if you have a child who loves to color, if you do not change the crayons for chalk, or white typing paper for construction paper, the children soon lose interest. If the reading area have the same books, they had a month ago, the child who loves to read may avoid that area because they have looked at that book many times and no longer are interested. If the blocks never change or nothing is added to the block area to enhance their play such as cars, animal or people, children can become bored. If dramatic play is always housekeeping and it doesn’t change with the theme of the moment, children may lose interest and tell you they have nothing to do. Keeping supplemental materials in plastic shoe boxes labeled with what is inside helps you change the environment quickly.
When creating a new or revamping an existing space take time to know what the children like. Children’s interests sometimes can change from week to week. So, how’s do you know what know what children like or would like to know more about. It is simple, ask them. This can be done informally as you sit at lunch or snack and talk to children about what they like. You can also use interest surveys and interview the children individually or as a whole group and chart their ideas. When you plan with the interests of the children in mind you are more successful engaging them in play. This will not only help you create spaces in the environment to support their interests, it will also help you create lesson plans that engage the children in learning. For instance, if several children are interested in animals, create a veterinarian’s office or a rain forest in dramatic play. Have a Veterinarian come and talk about how to take care of pets. In the reading area have books about a variety of animals. In the art center have art supplies to create pictures of their favorite pets. You can also create a display with the children’s art work or pictures of their household pets. Extending a child’s interest throughout the center creates ownership and engagement.
Use your group time to advertise new spaces or materials within existing spaces. Explain to the children what is in each center and where the new materials are located. This is also a great time to explain to children how to use something that is new to them. For example, if they have never used Floam in the sensory table, showing them how it works in circle allows them to be more successful. If you are excited when you explain the new aspects of the environment the children will be also.
Finally, when you add or change and environment use, your group time to let the children know what is new and where the new things are located!
erotik
24 Aug 2020hello I love the header of your blog, it is a personal creation? Demeter Robbert Didier
Dennis
3 Sep 2020Great delivery. Sound arguments. Keep up the great spirit.
1xbet зеркало сайта на русском
23 Oct 2020I don’t even understand how I stopped up here, however I believed this submit was good.
I don’t understand who you might be but definitely you are going to a well-known blogger if
you are not already. Cheers!
Patricia
23 Oct 2020Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored to death at work
so I decided to check out your website on my iphone during lunch break.
I really like the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, excellent site!
erotik izle
19 Nov 2020Thanks for the article. Really looking forward to read more. Gretta Cammy Holt
film
25 Nov 2020Hello. This article was really motivating, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this issue last Saturday. Shauna Byrle Clemmie
film
30 Nov 2020Hello, I enjoy reading all of your post. I like to write a little comment to support you. Lanie Boonie Oates
Herlinda Mogus
6 Dec 2020i like this wonderful post
hd film izle
23 Dec 2020Great, thanks for sharing this blog post. Great. Nedra Ecklar
tintuccuocsong247.net
30 Dec 2020Wow, this piece of writing is good, my younger sister is analyzing these kinds of things,
thus I am going to inform her.
SELLNER3349
6 Jan 2021Thank you!!1
وبسایت
18 Jan 2021Nice post keep on sharing new things.
site
20 Jan 2021Thanks for a marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you’re a great author.
RomeoNExpose
8 Feb 2021Touche. Great arguments. Keep up to date the great spirit.
Here is my web site: RomeoNExpose
rolex replica v7
4 Mar 2021appropriate post
Levi Sultaire
8 Mar 2021wonderful content, i like it
stickers pack
12 May 2021Good article. I definitely love this site.
Stay with it!
my blog; stickers pack
Gündem Haberleri
11 Aug 2021Hello there! This article couldn’t be written much better!
Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept preaching about this. I’ll forward this post to him.
Pretty sure he will have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!