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Furnishings & Equipment |
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The size of your center, the type of program you offer, your staff, and
your budget will all affect your purchasing decisions for furniture, equipment,
and supplies. There are basic furnishings and equipment you'll need to help
provide a safe and comfortable learning environment for children. (Note: These
lists do not include any special equipment needed for children with special
needs.) Furnishings for your center should include:
Tables that seat four to six children; chairs, at least one per child;
comfortable chairs, couch, and/or carpeted area for reading and quiet area;
storage units (shelving) with
children's materials on their level, plus adult storage not accessible to
children; easels; rugs and/or mats; cubby storage units; book display stand;
supply storage units (for paints, glue, art supplies, etc., not in use -- with
doors that cannot be opened by children); clock; wastebaskets; window shades;
sand/water table Art -- Paint containers (spill-proof); paint
(non-toxic, washable); paint brushes in assorted sizes; paper (assorted sizes of
colored construction, newsprint, and plain white); aprons or smocks; markers;
blunt nose scissors; glue and/or glue sticks; glitter; colored chalk; crayons;
stamps and ink pads; recycled materials; natural materials from outside; hole
punches; string; staplers Block Corner -- Wooden unit blocks in varied
sizes; cardboard brick blocks; table top blocks; wooden trucks and cars; sturdy
model animals and people to extend creativity; wooden train sets (optional) Dramatic Play -- Housekeeping/kitchen units;
safety mirror; dress-up clothes and costumes; play foods (multicultural, too!);
play kitchen utensils, dishes and cookware; puppets; puppet theatre; dolls
(various sizes and multi-ethnic); doll high chair, cradle or furniture; plastic
animals (farm, jungle, dinosaurs); equipment to expand dramatic play beyond home
living (e.g., play money and cash register, office equipment, dress-up clothing) Manipulatives -- Washable infant toys (have
several of each type); connecting blocks (e.g., Duplos); pegs and pegboards; geo
boards; lacing cards; puzzles; shape sorters; beads and string; linking toys
(snap-together cubes, gears) Meal Areas -- Stove; sink; dishes and cups
(plastic for children); eating utensils for children; serving utensils;
microwave oven; pots and pans; kitchen utensils; refrigerator with freezer;
storage cupboards; cleaning equipment and supplies; dishwasher and Sterilizer;
food thermometer; high chairs for infants Music -- Instruments (drums, tambourines,
bells, maracas, cymbals, fingerbells, xylophone, etc.); rainsticks; tape, record
or CD player; cassettes, records, or CDs; scarves and flags for movement and
music Nap Areas -- Cribs (for infants); mats or
cots (for toddlers and older); mat sheets (washed daily); extra sheets and
blankets; stuffed animals (washed frequently) Playground -- Outdoor climbing structures
(with proper surfacing); swing sets (you
need plenty of room for these!); riding toys such as tricycles, scooters, play
cars, etc.; wagons; wheelbarrows; balls (many sizes); sandbox with lid; sand
toys; see saw; basketball hoop (free-standing) Reading and Literature -- Alphabet blocks,
puzzles, magnets, stamps, cookie cutters, etc.; games (bingo, lotto, sorting
cards); sequencing puzzles; felt boards with play scenes; books (picture books,
board books for infants, big books); audio tapes and cassette player; posters of
favorite book characters Science -- Nature objects (shells, leaves,
rocks, etc.); magnifying lenses; plant growing materials; magnets and magnetic
objects; charts (weather, temperature, etc.); binoculars; gardening materials;
books and posters about science; discovery table or light table; live animals
(e.g., fish, ant farms, small mammals, as allergies allow), but no turtles (due
to toxic salmonella germs) Sensory -- Play-doh (you can make your own);
modeling clay; shaving cream; "pudding painting" bubbles; sand and
water toys (buckets, shovels, funnels, measuring cups, water wheel, bathing
dolls, spray bottles, etc.) Toileting Areas -- Washbasins and toilets (at
children's level); toilet paper; paper towels; toilet seat inserts (if desired);
small step stool (if needed); liquid soap in dispensers; diaper changing table
or surface; wipes; disposable rubber gloves; spray bottle of disinfectant to use
on surface; diapers; diaper pail with lid
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This page last updated on
Monday, November 13, 2006 |
