Plan which area of the classroom will be reserved as your culture center. The area does not have to be large; it needs to be open and inviting to toddlers. If you plan to put sensory items like sand, rice or beans in your culture area, be sure that these items are safe and that you instruct the toddlers to apply caution when handling these items. It is also advisable to select a location next to a sink or bathroom.
Place low bookshelves in your culture area. Keep the reading area well lit, so that the children can easily look at the books. Offer a variety of stories like fairy tales, classic children's stories and multicultural legends. Books made of sturdy cardboard will not get ripped as easily as paper pages. Place an area rug and some throw pillows near the bookshelves for toddlers to relax and flip through books.
Add a small table and chairs to the area for toddlers to complete puzzles or build blocks. Keep the table and chairs away from the bookshelves, so that the chairs do not bump into young ones who are relaxing on the floor.
Hang bright or colorful posters around the culture area to make the mood more inviting to toddlers. Posters of shapes, numbers and letters and animals are some choices. Use blank wall space to showcase the latest class craft or portraits personalized by the kids.
Place any pretend play equipment like stoves, dishes or vacuum cleaners in your culture area. Keep separate storage bins for plastic play food that toddlers can "cook."
Keep the area open to prevent little ones from tripping over one another. If your items are clustered too close together, remove something like the pretend play equipment. Rotate the other items once a month to keep the toys and books fresh because they are not used daily.
Get down on your hands and knees and "walk" through your culture area. Look for any uncovered outlets, extension cords or hidden dangers that may be unnoticed from the perspective of a grown-up.