Every child is unique, having abilities and interests that differ from other children.
We provide many areas for children to learn and explore safely, and in a fun, engaging way, in all the areas they enjoy.
Here are 10 Areas Of Our Classroom we have for children to explore and learn.
1. Sensory Bin
Children like to explore with their senses. That's how children learn. We start as babies; where everything goes in the mouth. Toddlers still explore with their mouth, but they begin to use their gross motor, by RUNNING EVERYWHERE! then as toddlers grow into preschoolers, their fine motor is developing, and they love to touch. At Wee Beginnings Nursery School we provide children with sensory bins of materials they can explore safely. And they can explore in a variety of ways with materials like scoops or spoons, turkey basters or funnels, 'water wheels' or sieves. These help to develop their fine motor abilities of pinching/grasping. Children will also develop knowledge in weight, sounds, and material properties (like wet/dry, hard/soft, ... ). And children are also developing their social and language skills by helping, sharing, collaborating, and discussing ideas.
2. Fine Motor Table
At the Fine Motor Table, we provide children with activities that they can touch and explore, while learning and being creative. Depending on the ages, this could be a 'light bright', pegs in a peg board, creating pictures with geo shapes or buttons. Children could also string beads or use lacing cards. Our Fine Motor table can also be where we set up playdough or let the children use stickers or stencils. we have a variety of activities children can experience while developing, and strengthening their fine motor muscles, as well as their language, and social/emotional skills.
3. Game Table
We provide game for children to explore. For younger children who don't understand the concepts of playing a game, this allows the children to learn what to do, how to do and a sense that they are not too young to 'play a game'. It also develops their fine motor abilities of pinching / grasping the playing pieces. For instance, with the game where you have to drop four coins in a row, children are learning eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills and are just having fun putting the coins into the top slot, and dropping them out the bottom. In later years, they will be able to play the game with ease, because they already developed the sense of how to play.
4. Science Table
Children like to explore in so many ways. Especially with magnifying glasses, and microscopes, scales and magnets. We provide a table where children can safely use scientific materials and equipment to explore the world around them.
5. Play Area
We provide children with a large play area, where all the toys are in one spot, giving children a chance to play with items they may not normally choose to play with. This also lets their imagination soar. Also children will begin to play with others they may not normally choose to play with. This is where collaboration and language begin to form, and social & emotional skills are enhanced.
6. Gross Motor Area
All children need time to 'blow off steam', and get their wiggles out, some children more than others. Children also need to develop and strengthen their sense of risk taking. When we, as parents, hover and tell children 'don't climb there, that's not safe', we are actually hindering this important development. Children need to learn to take risks, by climbing trees, or a large rock, or jumping off stumps or logs. Going up a slide is another example of risk taking. Skinned knees will mend, and a child's ability to take risks will develop and strengthen. We provide an area where children can climb and jump, balance and throw, without fear, so they can learn to take risks, get their wiggles out, and have fun.
7. Craft Table
Just like adults, children have activities they are naturally drawn to. Some children like doing puzzles, and some don't. Some children like to read, and others don't. Some children like to do crafts, while others do not. We provide children with craft items to explore, and create, although we don't 'make' a child do a craft. I know it's nice to have something as a keepsake, and we do try our best to encourage children to try many different art materials. Sometimes our crafts may seem silly, but for children who are just leaning to use the items, it's a wonderul experience and skill building. for instance, they are building their fine motor muscles to use scissors or paintbrushes. Children also learn how to use an appropriate amount of glue 😊 .
8. Circle Time Area
At circle time, children develop their language through singing and stories. Again, we provide different ways to use their senses, through musical instruments or felt songs or story props. Having a variety of materials for our circle times, gives children different experiences, and builds their creativity and imagination, as well as language, social emotional skills and gives them a change to learn and build their ability to sit in a group (something they need to learn for big school). Depending on the ages, this is also the time we may discuss calendar, weather, and learn about each other by 'show and tell' time.
9. Puzzle Area
Puzzles are a great way to develop problem solving and fine motor skills. Children also learn placement language, like upside down, next to, beside, up top, at the bottom, ... All words they need to know and understand as they transition to big school. I have found that children enjoy big floor puzzles more than table top puzzles. With floor puzzles, children are using their entire bodies, by stretching out to pick up or place a puzzle piece. This helps to develop and strengthen their physical bodies.
10. Library Area
Some children need a quiet corner to rejuvenate themselves, or to calm down when they are upset, and the 'reading corning' is a natural place children gravitate to when in need of that quietness. Books are a great way to sit quietly and learn self regulation and language. we provide a variety of books that are brightly coloured, with big pictures. Some of our books have no words, just pictures, this encourages children to imagine and create their own stories. Some of our books have picture words (or Rebus words), which is the beginning stage of reading. Both these types of books encourage pre-reading skills as the children don't need to 'know the words' to read. We also have books with 'regular words', and I am often invited to sit and read to the children who love to sit and listen.
I hope you enjoyed this small tour of our classroom.
See you there!
