PRETEND CENTER: Pretend/imaginative play supports creativity and self-expression. The pretend play center can help children learn real life skills and social skills (conflict resolution, self regulation, emotional outlet) . Also pretend play supports literacy and helps develop creative thinking.
ART CENTER: Art helps children learn about self-expression and creativity. Art projects are also a good way for children to develop fine motor skills and improve their hand-eye coordination.
BLOCK CENTER: Blocks help children learn to take turns and share materials, develop new friendships, become self-reliant, increase attention span, cooperate with others, and develop self-esteem.
BOOK CENTER: Children who have been exposed to a literacy-rich environment in early childhood show a greater number of emergent literacy behaviors and pre-reading skills. The classroom library enriches language and vocabulary development.
SCIENCE & DISCOVERY CENTER: Science allows children to explore, experiment, question, discover, and understand natural and human-made objects and forces. Experiments and activities with science and nature also stimulate children's curiosity, encourage use of all five senses, and help to build vocabulary.
MATH CENTER: Math Centers have a positive effect on student confidence, comprehension, and autonomy. Exploring number concepts give children the opportunity to improve their coordination, learn about counting, sorting, comparing, and expand their problem-solving skills.
MANIPULATIVES/GAME CENTER: Manipulative sets, pegboards, puzzles, lacing, beads, and other manipulative items can help children learn to problem solve, develop their fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, visual discrimination and design creative structures.
CIRCLE TIME/GROUP TIME: This time encourages the development of listening skills, creative expression, group interaction as well as language skills. Songs, fingerplays, stories, and discussions are incorporated into this time. This time is also a time to review instructions for daily activities in all of the learning centers.
WRITING CENTER: The writing center is a place where a child can explore different writing utensils and develop pre-writing and pre-literacy skills. Also children begin to associate print with reading, and develop hand/eye and fine motor skills.
MUSIC/LISTENING CENTER: At this center children can explore musical instruments and recorded music/books. Music helps the body and mind work together, accelerates brain development, helps build memory skills, and brings joy!
QUIET CENTER: This area provides a quiet place for a child to experience some quieter time and/or help regulate emotions. It can provide them time and space to calm their sensory systems. Books and soft toys are provided for comfort and snuggling.
