Play spaces for a small kindy room at a child care centre..?

Question

I have to set up play spaces in a Kindy room at a child care centre. The room is pretty small. The spaces need to stay set up for 3 days. I am setting up home corner with a kitchen and dining room already. The room has 3 small tables always set up and the activities on them are changed after each meal time, as they use these tables for morning and afternoon tea and lunch. I just need some simple ideas.....help.

Answer 1

Mark making table, playdough, water and sand, construction, shape and picture jigsaws, treasure baskets, dressing up, small world play, pasta sorting, etc: hope this is useful.

Answer 2

I don't know what kind of materials you have, but you might have a music/dance space.  The children in my room love ours we have a lot of different kinds of music: classical to kids bop or whatever its called.  Also you might try a block area, many children like to build and it helps them learn a lot of skills,  if you make suggestions and get involved you'll see some really elaborate structures being built.  I hope this helps.

Answer 3

transportation

quiet corner with beanbag chair and books

sensory table

science area

Answer 4

Well, I can't really be of much help since I'm unable to visualize the room :-)  But the following are the "centers/play spaces/areas" that I look for in a PreK room.  

Dramatic play---BEYOND home area but that's better than nothing :-)  This can also be incorporated with prop boxes

Block area-rotation of wooden blocks, foam blocks, etc.  Usually the large group area as well.

Computers

Art- open ended art area...shelf with various writing utensils, various types of glue, collage materials, scissors, paper, art project supplies

Sensory- water/sand table

Writing Area- I see many people place the writing/art together because of space ...unfortunately I don't see the emphasis on writing that way.

Games/Manipulatives

Science area.

Library

Guess you need to decide what is most important for your classroom.  Consider what you can do to incorporate some of those "centers" by using moveable/temporary containers.  Like a back pack full of "science exploration" that they can take to a table.  Or a writing caddy that has paper/writing utensils.  Or a "art bag" (though this does NOT lend to open-ended art projects).  Good luck!