Family Child Care Homes by Armstrong Linda J.;

Author:Armstrong, Linda J.; [Armstrong, Linda J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Redleaf Press

An effective family child care environment can be designed in many ways. Arranging and rearranging a room on paper is much easier than moving heavy furniture from place to place.

•the number of items needed to support the activities in each zone

•how readily accessible stored items are

•the learning goal or purpose of each zone

Much like a city planner who designs roads to accommodate the number of cars using them, shops and buildings based on the needs of the community, and sidewalks where pedestrians need them, you can think of the overall physical arrangement of your space as a collection of places and pathways. With too many pathways, there are no places to go—but with too few pathways, there is no way to get from one place to another. As you put it all together, consider the following items for each zone:

Entryway

•sign in/out area

•place for child’s belongings

•family information area

Work Zone

•tables and chairs appropriately sized for the children involved

•open display of materials (such as shelves, see-through containers, and baskets)

•a variety of easy-to-clean work surfaces for

•creative arts

•manipulatives

•writing readiness

•games and puzzles

•cooking and eating

•exploration and discovery

Large-Space Zone

•a large open space

•open-ended materials to support

•music

•movement and dance

•physical games

•dramatic play and productions

Quiet or Comfy Zone

•pillows (only for children over twelve months old)

•a bean bag chair (check manufacturer/licensing restrictions for use with children under three years), sofa, or upholstered chair

•a textured rug or a carpeted area

•bookshelves or open baskets with age-appropriate children’s books

Messy or Active Play Zone

•a messy play area near a water source or bathroom with equipment or furnishings to support

•painting

•cooking

•science experiments

•sensory play (such as water and sand)

•an active play area with open shelves of materials to support

•construction

•block play

Alone Zone

•a room for a single child or two or three children to

•have time to decompress

•be by themselves

•feel welcomed, not punished

•a protected area (a corner is ideal)

•a small rug, pillows

•a ceiling drop-over area (see-through netting, a fabric swag, a kite)

•a semi-enclosed structure with a clear line of sight inside (such as a small tent or a cutaway appliance box)

Imagination Zone

•dramatic play props

•a “pretend area”

•puppets

•a flannel board

Learning zones in FCC programs are fluid. They can be combined or portable according to the size of your child care space and the needs and interests of the children. The most important part of the process is setting up an environment where children want to be and stay to learn. The key elements for designing learning zones in your FCC program are listed here. Each zone should have the following:

•a variety of exciting age-appropriate materials or activities

•open-ended materials or activities that support discovery and learning for children of all ages and abilities

•an environment that is orderly and organized to help children be independent learners

•materials and activities that are rotated when children appear to be disinterested or do not use the items

Provider Krissy LaPorte summed up the process in these words: “The biggest challenge in setting up my child care space has been finding the right balance between allowing my home to be a reflection of my own personal style and incorporating day care materials that not only suit the children’s individual needs but also allow them to feel warm and welcome.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.