Chapter 8 Equipping the Center ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter Objectives Identify the necessary equipment that will meet child, adult, and service area needs. List criteria for choosing equipment and vendors, Describe a system for ordering equipment. Describe a system for managing equipment. ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Major Areas of Equipment Needs Children’s spaces –indoors and outdoors Adult spaces –office –conference room –waiting room –lounge area –resource areas / preparation areas –service areas ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Children’s Spaces Program philosophy and children’s needs influence space design –Learning centers and their specific furnishings Art Music Dramatic play Writing –School age space needs are not the same as younger children’s spaces Science Blocks Math Library ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Adult Spaces Space for preparation and paperwork Facilities that promote curriculum development Space for resources and materials Filing cabinets, closets, bookshelves Access to telephone Comfortable chairs for lounging Place for meetings Lounge for breaks / relaxation ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Service Areas Appliances Consumable materials Janitorial areas Laundry Kitchen Maintenance space / area ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Criteria for Equipment Selection Usefulness Developmental needs Versatility Safety Suitability Stereotypes Age appropriateness Durability Special needs ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Developmental Needs The developmental levels, capabilities, and the age range of the children enrolled influence what will be purchased –Infants: cribs, changing tables, bibs, chewable toys –Toddlers: toys for filling and dumping, lots of duplicates for sharing –School Age: complex games and crafts, semi- organized sports, larger equipment –Children with Special Needs: modified equipment or special equipment ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Versatility Versatile equipment can be used in several ways (hollow blocks used to make puppet theater) Versatile equipment can be used inside and outside (easels, water tables)

Suitability Provide equipment in several sizes to meet the needs of children –Children’s chairs: 10, 12, 14” high –Children’s feet should touch ground when sitting in chair –School age children should never be expected to use preschool-sized chairs and tables

Stereotypes Children with special needs should be depicted in books, images, dolls Classroom materials should reflect many cultures and depict a variety of roles with both genders (women doctors, male teachers) Books, materials, foods, and displays should be carefully selected to avoid stereotyping and to depict the pluralistic society in which children live

Special Needs Special equipment includes –Low tables –Comfortable floor services –Wheeled equipment with seat belts –Augmentative communication systems –Equipment that wheelchairs can fit under

Safety Should be nontoxic and not have sharp or pointed edges 3 areas to give special attention –Fall zones –Entrapment –Protrusions

Safety Big safety hazards –Drawstrings on children’s clothing –Lack of safe playground surfacing –Cribs with soft bedding

Ease of Maintenance Smooth surfaces Equipment parts easy to remove and replace Designed so outdoor equipment can be sanded and painted easily Equipment that will rust or rot easily should not be purchased for outdoor use ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Attractiveness Aesthetically attractive Use more natural wood over plastic Add colorful tablecloth in housekeeping area Yard of colorful fabric makes interesting hanging Use nature (seashells, polished rocks, twigs) Use textures and neutral colors (not primary colors) ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Working Within a Budget Most important when selecting equipment are durability and economy –Durability reduces replacement costs –Heavy duty kitchen equipment is best Prepaid maintenance agreement Maintenance checklist is proactive Average cost/classroom for equipment: $10,000 to $30,000 ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Ordering Equipment Equipment requisition Purchase time line –major start-up equipment –supplementary equipment –replacement of equipment Sources of equipment –Catalogs –Conferences –Word-of-mouth –Web sites ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Steps to Managing Equipment 1.Checking new equipment against order list 2.Inventorying new equipment –maintain backup disk of center inventory 3.Maintaining equipment –check daily for needed repairs 4.Storing equipment for checkout by teachers ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter Summary Appropriate equipment allows staff to focus on the children and programming Initial purchases are made when center opens Supplemental and replacement purchases are made on an as needed basis Equipment should be properly maintained and stored Plan for use and care of equipment must be developed ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.