The indoor space needs to be clean and colorful, interesting and inviting, and should reflect the children, their varying ages, cultures, and special interests. It needs to be broken up into different areas, providing a variety of activity choices. It needs to be labeled, clearly communicating what privileges and expectations children have in each area. It needs to be homelike and contain at least one very homelike area.
Planning and preparing the environment can be an activity in which the children can and should be involved. Children can generate some discussion and design suggested floor plans. This will give them the feeling of ownership, while teaching them citizenship and a sense of community. Involving all of the children will help the environment to reflect the group of kids and what they like.
Construction Zone |
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The activity space should be divided up different areas. One area can contain some Legos, Lincoln logs, craft sticks, wood blocks, construction straws or dominoes. This area should display a sign that says something like "Construction Zone" for the kids, and in smaller letters "Manipulatives/Fine Motor Area" for the educators' and parents' understanding.
Games of Skill and Strategy |
Another area can offer arts and crafts supplies for projects that are possible for school-age children to do with little or no assistance from staff (child-directed). The arts and crafts center can be as simple as some tubs full of interesting and varying supplies with no instructions whatsoever, or it can be a project with instructions and all the needed supplies.
Dramatic Play |
In another area, dress up clothes, costumes, props, puppet stages, and imaginative furnishings can be used to create a make believe grocery store, restaurant, classroom, veterinarian office, barbershop, hat store, or camp site. This area should display a sign that reads, "Dramatic Play".
Homelike Area |
Family Corner |
Science Area |
Another area can feature a special interest place that changes regularly. In this area, any kind of fun thing that staff or children can think of, or any special thing that interests a staff member or the children currently may be featured. The key here is variety. It is important to have plenty of choices and opportunity to do many activities that will interest many different children, so that they are having fun and are engaged and less likely to misbehave. Misbehavior is often due to boredom or activity choices that are too difficult, too limiting, or not challenging enough to meet the needs of certain children.
CC Rules |
For Best Practices, the following should be consistently and readily observable in the indoor program space.
• The indoor space meets or exceeds local health and safety codes.
• Written guidelines are in place regarding the use and maintenance of the program facility.
• There are no observable safety hazards in the program space.
• The building and grounds are clean, safe, and well maintained.
• The heat, ventilation, noise level, and light in the indoor space are comfortable
• The space is aesthetically pleasing.
• The space has ventilation that can be controlled.
• The space is well maintained.
• The space has some natural lighting that can be controlled.
• The school-age care provider and the school establish a caring, encouraging environment.
• There is ample indoor space for children to participate in a variety of activities.
• There is ample designated space.
• There is ample space for gross motor activities.
• There is ample space for individuals or small groups, protected from intrusion.
• The space is arranged well for a variety of activities: active games and sports, creative arts, dramatic play, quiet games, enrichment offerings, eating, and socializing.
• The indoor space allows children and youth to take initiative and explore their interests.
• Children can access materials out and put them away by themselves with ease.
• Children can arrange materials and equipment to suit their activities.
• The space is arranged so that various activities can occur simultaneously without much disruption.
• There is adequate and convenient storage space for equipment, materials, and personal possessions of children and staff.
• There is a quiet area that is actually quiet, not crowded and has suitable furniture for homework or reading.
• There is a planned cozy area plus “softness” in other areas.
• There are three or more interest areas or centers that are well defined.
• Quiet and noisy centers are separated.
• Centers are designed to provide a variety of learning experiences (i.e. art, science, manipulatives, and dramatic play.)
• School-age care program has daily use of a number of shared spaces.
• School-age care program can arrange for exclusive use of shared space on a regular basis (i.e. library, computer room or community pool).
• The indoor environment reflects the work and interests of children.
• The artwork of the children is displayed.
• School-age care staff has access to a lounge and toilet facilities that are separate from children’s area.
• There is enough room in the indoor space for staff to plan various program activities.
• There is ample, convenient, secure storage for staff belongings.
• There is ample office space and file storage space for staff.
• The space for staff meetings is satisfactory.
• Staff lounge has comfortable adult-sized furniture in good condition.
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