Each classroom area has its
own character and special attractions. Some children
initially only want to play in one or two of the areas,
places where they feel comfortable. Therefore, it is
important to integrate curriculum content, goals, and
objectives across all of the areas. In an effort to attract
every child to interest areas, teachers make frequent
changes and additions to these spaces. For example, if
Johnny always seems to gravitate to the Dramatic Play Area,
the teacher might be able to entice him to the Block Area if
she puts some camping equipment or a construction worker’s
uniform there. Those props might provide the comfort zone he
needs to “risk” playing in a new area.
The physical arrangement of Interest Areas is also very
important to effective classroom management and harmony. The
more active, noisy centers like the Block, Dramatic Play,
and Music Areas should be grouped together. Areas associated
with quieter play (computer and reading areas) should also
be grouped accordingly. Materials are always stored at
children’s eye level for easy, independent accessibility at
all times.
Learning
Through Play in the “Interest Areas”:
Here are just a few examples
of the many skills that children practice and master as they
play in the many Interest Areas.
Block Area: Working with blocks of all
types helps children develop math, spatial
relations, and problem solving skills.
Library/Writing Area:
This quiet area has the appropriate cues to enable a
distraught or over-stimulated child to regain his or
her composure.Children can also build on pre-reading
and writing skills through the exploration of print
in various contexts (listening center, books, and
inventive writing). Listening to stories or looking
at pictures stimula tes imagination as children
become immersed in the characters and themes of
books.
Dramatic Play Area:
This is the place where children can “act out”
(represent) different scenarios in their lives that
they are trying to understand. Dramatic play also
creates the perfect stage for practicing social
skills and learning how to share and take turns.
Music Area:
Children naturally love music. Moving and singing to
music helps strengthen skills associated with
physical coordination, cultural diversity, counting
and numbers, language, phoneme awareness, and
reading readiness.
Children’s Day
Nursery and Family Center,
104 Jefferson Street,
Passaic, NJ 07055
