A dramatic play area in the playroom lets the kids use their imaginations to play pretend. There are many options for the dramatic play area. A child's play tent is always popular. Set up a play kitchen area with pretend food, cups, plates and tables. A stage area is another option. You can build a raised stage area or simply hang curtains on the wall to mark the stage. A puppet stage is another option for the dramatic play center.
A construction zone is another popular option for a playroom. Include blocks of different types to keep the children's interest. Large cardboard blocks let the kids build forts and other larger structures. Wooden blocks offer another popular building option. Interlocking blocks help the kids improve their fine motor skills because of the need to carefully align the blocks. Dedicate enough floor space for the building area so the children can build their structures without kids in other areas disturbing them.
A craft area is another creative option for the daycare playroom. Set up children's easels or a child sized table for the craft area. Materials, such as chalk, paint, crayons, colored pencils, markers, construction paper, glue and scissors, can keep the children entertained for a long time. Hang the artwork in the playroom so the kids feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.
A sensory table is a stimulating addition to a childcare playroom. Commercial sensory tables are available at many educational supply and toy stores. The top portion of the table is a plastic tub that holds sand, water and other sensory items. You can also use plastic tubs to create individual sensory buckets that rest on top of a regular table or the floor. Provide the kids with cups, containers and plastic gardening tools to use with the material in the sensory table. Change the contents of the table regularly. Things such as rice, snow, leaves and cotton balls are possibilities. Keep a close eye on younger kids when playing with the sensory tables.
Consider the storage system in the playroom. Place similar toys together in tubs with lids. Place a picture label on the outside of the box so you can easily identify the contents. This also makes it easier for young kids to help pick up the items and put them in the correct containers. Add shelving to the playroom so you can easily stack the containers out of the way.
Safety is the most important consideration for a childcare environment. Choose a soft flooring to prevent injuries with falls. Anchor shelves to the wall so kids can't tip them over on top of themselves. Establish playroom rules and reinforce them with the kids. Inspect the toys on a regular basis to make sure they are still in good working order.