First of all you want your child to be well looked after and cared for at kindergarten. Then you can see your child having friendships and wonderful playtime. And then, as a cool bonus there are the physical surroundings. Is it playful? Is it inspiring? Does it put a smile on your face when you enter the door?
Here is a list of my top 13 ways to beautify your preschool.
1.Offer clearly defined playareas
Offer reading nooks, a place to puzzle, draw etc. Playareas that are visually defined in the room will make it easier for kids to navigate, relax, stay, get in the playtime-flow and tidy up, Everything has a certain place, and it is comforting to know.
2.Use white surfaces
White surfaces gives a clean and fresh impression, in addition to making all the arts and crafts projects that the kids make during a preschool year, really pop out on display.
3.Have child-art on display
Teaching children fine art techniques they can do together and look at on the wall, is an inspiring lesson in reflection, colors, contribution aswell as the art itself. Best things in life are free!
Jackson pollock
He founded the action painting technique, which fits kids natural desire for mobility and fun, down to a T.
Children engage in conversation while working on an art piece together. Their language skills and emotional development are strengthend by it. They learn how to focus, some even get into real artist “flow” and it`s all about sensory play.
4.Decorate playareas with fun paintings
Children have a great sense of humor! They love to laugh of all kinds of things, and will easily be charmed by Muppet Show characters in their play areas. “Manahmanam-do do do do doo”. Kermit greeting you hello or Miss Piggy in the dress-up area?
A sensory play area with a submarine becomes more exciting with a view of colorful fishes painted on the wall.
5.Have something to monitor
Imagine comming in everyday excited of what to expect. Have the eggs hatched? What colors are the leaves now? A painted tree will bring nature inside, and be a conversation starter as the seasons changes. Here the topic of pollen is relevant.
What did the Secret Santa do now?
During Christmas time the children will love the excitement of all the mischievious things a secret santa`s been up to.
It can also be fun watching your own stature grow as the days go by. Measuring stripes for each child can be painted in a hallway, decorative and functional.
6.Flag calender
The most fun I have ever had as a preschool teacher are the days leading up to the celabration of United Nations Day, in October. We dress up, dig up all kinds of artaffects and print pictures to show what a country is like. Teaching the children (and ourselves!) flags, costumes, culture, food, animals, scenery, you name it. It seems more wise than ever to learn “I`m O.K, you`re O.K, despite our differences in appearances and background. The children dont need to originate from the country themselves, but with their image on the card, they will love the attention on “their day”.
7.Exercise
Getting dressed for the wintertime may lead to a long haul in the hallway for some. Instead of getting restless and into conflicts, they can practise their problemsolving skills instead. Mazes are amazing brain excerzise.
Doing yoga with kids is a great daily physical routine. Children are quick at learning. Here I have made some cards to follow the prosedure.
8.Make a mobile for your hallway
Hallways offer a natural draft which fits a mobile perfectly. It spins around without electricity and is fascinating to look at for the youngest ones.
9. Shareable furniture
Whether it is a shelf on the floor or a fancy firetruck like this, use furniture with room for more than one in playareas. The more the merrier!
10. Bulletinboards with cards
Colorful cards on bulletinboards catches the eye, and is helpful information of what to wear, what parents need to bring, and the weather outside. Like apps on a phone!
11.Make papershoes
Practise makes perfect
Hung within a reach the child can practise tying shoelaces whenever it feels like it.
12.Gathering board
Make a focal area in the room for a 30 minutes intense learning experience every day. A gathering board in a bright color will naturally stand out. Have as many visual elements as possible to the session. Pictures, media, fairytales with puppets, roleplaying, competitions etc. Engage children in bringing their own toys as visual markers if they`d like to.
13.Theme work
Working on a themed project in preschool will be even more emphasized if using the physical surroundings aswell. There is a saying that kids need “to grab it- to get it”. Decorate a room with space elements to ignite the roleplay end inspire new vocabulary.
For a more temporary solution, create theater backdrops out of large, white wallpaper. The children will feel like they are literally in the book you are working on:-)
Or decorate a themed playhouse for the favorite kindergarten book. Lots of vocabulary, songs and great roleplay will instantly inspire for weeks and months.
