What Centers are available for the Children?

We try to keep three or more centers for our preschoolers open and activities available at a moments notice.

• We have our literacy area that is permanent with different kinds of books we rotate through like hard cover, soft cover, board books, and chewable books that teach different things, puppets, stuffed toys and sensory toys can also be found in the area at times.

• Safe Spot/ Cozy Corner / Calm Down Corner. We use a child's size cube that they can go inside and be away from others, but still in view. The cube has a sign language poster that teaches with pictures how to express how they fell and a poster explaining how to calm down. Other items in the cube at any time might include pillows, rugs, blankets, sensory toys, and books that are rotated in this area.

• Currently we have a large play kitchen with fine motor shape cupcakes, soft healthy foods, and cook wear.

• One of our favorite areas is the art area. The area has lots of different kinds of painting materials like paint, brushes, paint stamps, paint sticks, spin art, dot painters, a four person easel, different kinds of cutting scissors, different kinds of stamps and stamp pads, dough alphabet and number stamps, etc.

• Sensory area includes a sensory table, water table, sensory bottles, calm down boards, sand box, different kinds of sand & water toys, etc.

• Our shelfs can have different centers available like . . .

*Science for example we rotate with view specimens, magnetic learning items that are child safe, sensory bottles, a light center/table and different learning materials, sensory items, etc.

*Manipulatives like puzzles, for children with different skill levels, games, other areas also have items that fit in this category like the light table, sensory table, art area, Literacy boards, Number boards, dramatic play items, etc.

*Block area, we have several different sizes of wooden blocks, plastic blocks, different kinds of block area people, different kinds of vehicles, different kinds of animals, etc.

*Music area, We have different kinds of xylophones, pianos, shakers, maracas, drums, etc.

*Gross motor area with stepping stones, games, (a childhood favorite) rocking bridge, balance toys, etc.

*Dramatic play items with toy places like homes, barns, vehicles and people that can go inside them. play kitchen items, etc.

• When we are out and about on the weekends. We are always looking for new and used items that are open-ended non battery powered and educational for our students and preferred not a choking hazard so everyone can enjoy them together as a family. Our classroom is cleaned and sanitized when needed and at the end of the day.