Children's environments have the biggest effects on them during the early years of development. They are constantly discovering new things and exploring new activities; from these early discoveries and expeditions, children formulate opinions, expectations and understandings of their world. Because of this, children need to be surrounded by a variety of objects intended to stimulate different concepts. Activities should be separated in a way that encourages the most effective educational development, making the layout of your daycare or preschool very important.

What are the basics?

The goal of a daycare center or preschool should be to promote growth and development in a child-centered environment; furniture should be child-sized, bathrooms should be easily accessible and surroundings should reflect the diverse population of children who will learn, grow and play in your establishment.

There are certain items that every daycare and preschool needs: tables, chairs, cots / mats, bookcases, cubbies and other storage. A daycare also needs to have accommodations specifically for infants and young toddlers, such as cribs, changing tables and playpens. Decorations, such as mirrors and pictures promoting diversity, create variety and catch children’s interests.  

Ideally, daycare and preschool rooms should be divided into separate areas for different activities. Areas with potential to be on the noisy side (active play, arts and crafts, etc.) should not be arranged next to areas requiring quiet (reading and napping areas, etc.). Cribs, for instance, should not be placed next to an area for pretend play - the children playing “kitchen” would certainly awaken any sleeping infants! Ideally, a daycare or preschool room will have areas for napping (cribs, cots / mats,) storage (cubbies, lockers,) the teacher(s) and play. At least four general play areas are suggested: active play, quiet play, pretend play and arts and crafts.

Active Play

This category contains play furniture that children interact with in a physical, energetic manner. The active play area focuses on developing the gross motor skills of your students. Physical activity and interaction with their environment often allow children to learn more effectively than they would through simple visual or auditory encounters. Active play tends to provide constant change in stimuli, resulting in a heightening of the children’s understandings of their surroundings and the consequences of their actions. The active play area is often the space in the daycare where children can climb, move around and release energy. Lofts, ball pools, playground equipment and soft play activity blocks (or "modules") are all good examples of furniture featured in an area designated for active play. Soft play activity blocks are a popular choice for the activity area as they can usually be taken apart and put back together in different arrangements, providing many different play options for your children.

Quiet Play

Toddlers and young children are rarely truly quiet, but this area should focus on promoting the ability to work and play calmly. Generally, the quiet play area is used for reading or contemplative activities. This area should contain cushions and comfortable seating for reading as well as tables and chairs, primarily for students working on puzzles or other relatively quiet activities. If there is not space in the room for a separate napping area, the quiet play area should also contain the cribs and cots / mats.

Pretend Play

A pretend play area is essential for the development of a child’s creative, linguistic and social skills. Pretend play furniture allows children to use their imaginations and imitate adults around them; whether they are building a house, cooking a meal, taking a baby doll for a walk or putting on a puppet show, they are developing skills that teach them appropriate human interactions. Besides child-sized "realistic" furniture, such as kitchen sets, the pretend play area should also include appropriate activity tables and blocks. Blocks are unparalleled as developmental and educational toys. Younger children use them to develop fine motor skills, learn about shapes and begin their mathematical education, while older children further their skills by building more intricate structures.

Arts and Crafts

The arts and crafts area should be a place where it’s okay to be messy. Children will be working on their fine motor skills when painting or coloring and need know that spilling paint or water is not the end of the world. Art is another healthy way for children to express their feelings; it provides a completely fluid form of play where a child has complete control over what they create with the supplies at their disposal. This area should include tables, chairs, easels, activity tables and, of course, art supplies, providing children with various artistic outlets for their thoughts and energy.