Dividing Children's Playrooms
Maximize Kids' Development By Setting Up Activity Zones
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:
- dolls and doll accessories
- kitchen equipment (pretend food, dishes, etc.)
- dress up clothes, shoes and hats
- full length mirror (one created for play areas)
- aprons
- combs and brushes
- child sized table and chairs
- cash register and play money
- empty food containers
- toy telephones
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:
- non toxic paints and brushes
- collage material (scrap paper, buttons, etc.)
- glue and glitter
- playdough, modeling clay and cookie cutters
- scissors
- markers, crayons, and pencils
- construction paper, notebooks, and writing paper
- stencils
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:
- sand and water table
- measuring cups and funnels
- sorting materials
- pegs and pegboards
- board games, matching games, and number games
- bug boxes and magnifying glasses
- rocks, pinecones and leaves
- toy animals
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.
