1. Preschool Layout (Source: CTAERN)
ROOM ARRANGEMENT
Preschool Layout
(Source: CTAERN)

2. ACTIVITY: The importance of environment
Go around the building on a scavenger hunt to find something that might represent:
Something that sparks a childhood memory
Something you don’t understand
Something that might insult your intelligence
Something you’d like to take home with you
Something you’d like to take to a desert island
Something that has many uses

3. Effects of Room Arrangement
Influences how children act and learn
Prompts children to use materials
Easily accessible, inviting
Children will be happy if the room is a welcoming place
Comfortable, pleasing to the eye, safe
Children will act orderly if the room is orderly
Can be the cause of disruptive behavior

4. What is wrong with this picture?

5. This is a Good Place to Be
Furniture is clean, safe, and well maintained.
Wall decorations are largely made up of children’s art displayed attractively at their eye level.
Colorful decorations, plants, pillows are used

6. You Belong Here
Personal cubby for each child
Furniture is child sized
Pictures, books, & learning materials with different ethnic & economic backgrounds & people with disabilities

7. This Is a Place You Can Trust
There is a well defined schedule
Materials & toys are available
Materials labeled and easy to find

8. You Can Do Many Things On Your Own
Materials are stored on low shelves so children can use materials on their own
Materials are logically organized
Shelves are labeled with pictures to show where things belong

9. You Can Get Away and Be By Yourself When You Need To
Small, quiet areas for one or two children
Large pillow or stuffed chair
Headphones for individual listening

10. This Is a Safe Place to Explore and Try Out Your Ideas
Protected and defined small areas for small group activities
Smocks for art and water play to avoid fear of getting soiled
Outdoor area is fenced in
Toys are rotated so there frequently is something new to interest children

11. GUIDELINE Materials must be “Child Size”
Picture & Bulletin Boards should be at child’s eye level
Organized & uncluttered
Keep learning centers separate from each other
Everything must have a place
Create a sense of arrival and welcome

12. TRAFFIC FLOW Do not have large spaces for running
Fill outer edges, center is the pathway
A square center is dead space
Irregular or rectangle easier to use
Children in one center cannot reach children in another unit
No need to walk through units to get to another

13. APPEARANCE Clean, neat and cheerful Neatness enhances learning
Color can provide a cheerful atmosphere

14. EFFECT OF COLOR LIGHT BLUE WHITE LIGHT GREEN YELLOW ORANGE RED PURPLE
Comfortable, soothing, secure, tender
Clean, pure, frank, cool, youthful
Peaceful, refreshing, restful
Happy, cheerful
Welcoming, forceful, energetic
Welcoming, energetic, forceful, stimulating
Mournful
Question: What colors do you think would be best for
A day care or preschool?

15. SAFETY
Teachers must be able to see and supervise all areas of the room
All materials must be safe and in working order
Outside doors need to be visible and locked to the outside and to the children
Storage of hazardous materials must be locked

17. What is right with this picture?
From Planning Environments for Young Children by Kritchevsky & Prescott

18. Planning Outdoor Environments
Enough empty space
Broad, easily visible paths
Children in one unit cannot reach children in another unit
No need to walk through play units to get to another
No dead space
No blind space

19. Outdoor Play Area Problems
Lack of shade
Northern exposures
Poor drainage
Broken equipment
Too few things and play space

20. Need for Complexity
Provide opportunity to lengthen attention span and expand on play
Make settings for children to meet each other and socialize
More opportunities for choice

21. Good or Bad? Lots of grass and trees Bright colors
Narrow winding paths
Slides, jungle gyms
Swings
No complexity
More appealing to adults, not necessarily a focus of activity
No flexibility, inventiveness
Traditional, fun, and they last
Seclusion form others, but can watch

22. Vandalism Decreases if visible to neighbors
Decreases if facility is used for neighborhood meetings
Decreases if PR is good with the public

23. Activity: PRESCHOOL LAYOUT PAPER Arrange the preschool to include:
Cubbies for children and sign in desk
Kitchen with tables for art or snack
Dramatic play area
Quiet corner with books
Circle time area with rug
Science center
Small Manipulative area with table
Block, truck area
Sensory table
You may add to, change, or delete furniture provided. Cut all pieces apart.