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Ideas for Making Different Areas to Play in Preschools

Preschoolers are learning lessons about letters, numbers, socializing and their world. Often all these lessons happen within the confines of one room. Children this age can be distracted and messy, so the toys will be spread all throughout the room if it's not organized. To differentiate areas, place a different colored rug in each area. Explain that the toys found in one area should stay in that area at all times.
  1. Dramatic Play Area

    • Set up an area that can be used for pretend play like dress up or playing house. Bring in bookshelves and bins to block off an out-of-the-way spot. Fill the shelves with objects that can be used as props, such as cooking utensils, empty boxes, pretend medical equipment and musical instruments. Fill a dress-up box with work shirts and party dresses that come from a thrift store or are donated by class parents. Wash the clothes first.

    Building Area

    • Children develop their motor skills, hand-eye coordination and creative thinking when they get to build things. Make a building and block area. Stock the shelves with large foam or wooden blocks of various shapes. Hang pictures on the walls showing things children might create with the blocks, such as rocket ships and buildings. Bring in plastic train track or road pieces that snap together in different formations. Add a bin full of trains and cars to run on the tracks.

    Writing and Art Center

    • Set up tables and chairs in a quiet area of the classroom. Use tall shelves to separate this area from the rest of the room. Fill plastic boxes with markers, crayons and colored pencils. Put out bins filled with plain paper, coloring sheets and lined paper for writing practice. Add a box filled with stencils in the shape of letters and numbers. Tape examples of the letters of the alphabet onto the tables for children to reference.

    Cozy Corner

    • Set up a cozy corner in a quiet corner. This area is for children who enjoy quiet play time or just need a break from the stimulation of the classroom. Put pillows and blankets on the ground and add some baskets filled with dolls and stuffed animals. This is also an ideal spot to put the classroom bookshelves so children can read in this corner. Set up a CD player and CDs of relaxing music nearby.

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