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Providers > Starting and
Running a Center Program
- Facilities
and Equipment
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The amount of space in your center will determine the amount and size of the furnishings and equipment that you'll need to purchase. The main idea is to make the most of the space you have!
- Store most of your supplies on shelves -- up high, to allow for more space on the floor for both children and activities.
- Break your main room up into activity areas -- dramatic play, book corner,
sand table area, etc.
- Set aside a storage space where you can store large equipment, to allow
for rotation of equipment.
- Have an area that you can use for indoor, loud, active play.
- Have a designated area for nap time. It's best to have children sleep in
the same place each day.
Furnishings
that you'll want to purchase include:
- A table that seats four to six children
- Chairs, at least one per child
- Storage shelving units
- An easel
- Mats or cots for nap time
- A book display stand
- Sand/water table
- Potty chairs
- A diaper changing table
Activity
areas allow the children to focus on various developmental skills. You may choose to design the rooms in your center around a particular learning activity for a few days at a time. Here are the main activity areas you'll need, with some examples of materials and equipment for each:
- Large Motor: indoor climbing structures, play tunnels, large wooden
blocks, pillows
- Art: paints, markers, stamps and ink pads, scissors, assorted
papers
- Manipulatives: connecting blocks, lacing cards, peg boards, shape
boxes, beads
- Sensory play: play dough, shaving cream, bubbles, sand and water
toys
- Blocks: wooden blocks in various unit sizes, animal and people
blocks, cardboard blocks
- Dramatic play: dress-up clothes, housekeeping/kitchen units,
puppets, dolls, play foods
- Reading: books, audiotapes, felt boards, puzzles, alphabet blocks
- Science: magnifying lenses, magnets, binoculars, nature objects,
charts
- Outdoor play: wagons, balls, sandbox, sand toys, tricycles,
climbing structure, swing set
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