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Return to the Helpful Hints Homepage
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Helpful Hints: Creating Interest Areas
Setting up interest areas with in the classroom is important for
the making of a classroom that promotes the growth and development for a child.
Here are areas that are typically in an early childhood classroom:
• Blocks (unit blocks, people and transportation)
• Dramatic Play (kitchen set, dress-up clothes & dolls)
• Fine Motor or Manipulative (tables, puzzles, pegs & beads)
• Art (easels, paint, crayons & paper)
• Sand & Water (sand and water table, funnels, measuring cups & sponges)
• Library (book display, books & soft cushions)
• Music and Movement (dance/prop storage, musical instruments/players)
• Storage for Personal Belongings (lockers, storage bins, etc.)
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Helpful Hints:
Adapting Your Classroom for Children with Disabilities
Meeting the needs for children with special needs is an important aspect of every child-care environment.
Small changes can be made to insure that the needs of every child are being met.
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• Establish consistency in patterns and routines so that all children not just those with
diagnosed disabilities can find materials in the same place every day.
• Children that are visually impaired or have equipment to assist with their mobility
need open pathways and play areas.
• When changes are made in the classroom, show all the children the new layout
so that all can maneuver around without getting hurt.
• Use coat hooks rather than hangers. Place the hooks on the children's level.
For visually impaired children place their locker on the end of the storage area.
Put a piece of cloth or cotton on the end of the coat hook for safety.
This will also identify the cubby of a child who is visually impaired.
Any items placed on shelves should be on low open shelves for easy access.
• Placing heavier toys on lower shelves will prevent injury from toys falling on children.
• By identifying contents of a container by hot gluing a piece of the material inside the box
(e.g. Lego, blocks, etc) visually impaired children can determine what is inside.
This will also help with cleanup with all children.
• If environment changes require structural repairs or special adapted equipment,
funding might be available through various grants. Contact your local ARC organization or
www.thearc.org to find out what funding might be available for you.
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The aforementioned are professional opinions. All of these are the sole property of WDM, Inc.
Any use of the contents, above statements, or ideas requires the written permission of WDM, Inc. Violators will be prosecuted.
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Helpful Hint of the Month...
Sofa and Chair
By using the Wood Designs'
Sofa (WD31600)
and Chair (WD31500)
you are inviting to children to
feel free to relax and concentrate,
which conveys the message that
exciting things can happen in a quiet area.
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Shown above, left to right:
WD31600 Sofa and WD31500 Chair
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Teacher Resources: Helpful Hints Archive
Our past Helpful Hints articles, organized & archived
for your convenience in setting-up your own classroom.
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Enhance interest areas by providing enough shelving & storage bins
for the amount of materials provided in the classroom.
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