Childcare centers enroll many children between the ages of 3 and 5. These children are beginning to learn the skills necessary to go to kindergarten, and many preschools rely on centers to teach certain concepts. Preschool-aged children learn through play and hands-on activities. Centers provide the resources and time for your preschoolers to manipulate various educational toys and gain new skills as they interact with peers. How you divide your centers plays an important role in how educational and effective they are at preparing your preschoolers for the school years ahead.
One primary way that preschool centers are divided is by activity. Your blocks are likely in one center, your dress-up items in another and your kitchen toys in another. This design groups objects according to their use so your preschoolers are able to apply their past knowledge about them and increase their understanding as they play. Each activity also provides your preschoolers with time to interact with one another. Your preschoolers learn valuable skills by playing with friends, including sharing, taking turns and appropriate manners. Group like items together in your classroom to create effective centers. Building blocks and tools might be placed together to encourage construction. Place dress-up items, such as chefs hats and aprons, with the kitchen set to encourage preschoolers to adopt household roles. Place glue, paper and art supplies in one area and puzzles and games in another.
The learning style of your preschoolers is another consideration when you are dividing your centers. Because more than one child plays in a center at the same time, you must decide what students work well together. When your preschoolers get along well, they are more likely to learn from each other and enjoy their learning time. Separate preschoolers who cannot work together so your center time is peaceful and effective. You might also consider the strengths and weaknesses of your students when dividing your centers. If you notice that one or two children need additional practice cutting, divide your groups so they have time in the art center. Children who struggle with fine motor skills might boost their skills by playing in the blocks center.
Your classroom size and setup also play a role in how you divide your centers. If you are short on space, place two bookshelves back-to-back and make each side a separate center. Consider how much room each center takes as well. The block center requires enough room to build towers and other creations, while the art center only requires a small table and two or three chairs. Set up your centers away from your classroom door to cut down on distractions as preschoolers come and go. Similarly, keep your centers away from the bathroom area to keep distractions to a minimum.