Dividing Children's Playrooms

Maximize Kids' Development By Setting Up Activity Zones

© Charlina Stewart

Child Working in the Block Area Of His Playroom, Anissa Thompson

This article teaches parents how to make the most of kids' playrooms by dividing them into activity zones.

Dividing children's playrooms into activity zones mimics the setups in most preschool and kindergarten classrooms. Each zone is specifically designed to focus on a certain area of interest such as dramatic play, math, reading, etc. Learn how to maximize kids' development by setting up activity zones in their play areas.

Dramatic Play Area

The dramatic play area is where children will carry out all of their imaginative play experiences. This section of your kids’ playroom will require a fair amount of open space so that children will have room to maneuver as they pretend to be doctors, musicians, grocery store clerks, parents, cooks and such.

Parents should provide materials that allow children to engage in a variety of types of imaginative play. Some of these items can include:

Reading Area

When dividing your kids’ playroom into activity zones, the reading area will require the least amount of space. A quiet corner is perfect for creating a warm, cozy reading nook. The area should be furnished with a small bookshelf, a variety of children’s books, and a child sized lounger, rocking chair, or beanbag.

Block Area

To setup this activity zone, parents can use an area rug to define the floor space for children to engage in block play. Large blocks can be stored in oversized plastic bins and positioned against the wall when they’re not being used.

Items that allow kids to expand on their block play experiences such as cars, dump trucks, and play tools should be added to the area.

Creative Arts and Crafts Area

There will be tons of messy play going on in this activity zone. The closer it is to a sink, the happier everyone will be. This activity zone should have a spacious table for children to work with materials for their creative projects. The creative arts and crafts area can include some of the following things:

Math and Science Area

Kids will be doing a lot of sorting, counting, mixing, measuring and observing in the math and science area--so this area should be equipped with a table and a small reachable shelf where children can store their items. Some things that can fill the math and science area are:

Dividing kids’ playrooms into activity zones can give them an opportunity to engage in a wide spectrum of learning experiences and stimulate all areas of their development.


The copyright of the article Dividing Children's Playrooms in Early Childhood Development is owned by Charlina Stewart. Permission to republish Dividing Children's Playrooms must be granted by the author in writing.


Child Working in the Block Area Of His Playroom, Anissa Thompson
       


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