Defining Areas in Your Classroom

Research has confirmed what most teachers already know-the physical environment greatly influences behavior and learning in children.  This is important information to understand when designing your space.  Not only the utility, but also the appearance of a classroom can dictate the mood and activity in the room.  Students in an attractive and purposeful environment have been found to experience more feelings of comfort, energy, and enjoyment.  When questioned, they requested to remain in the room and continue their activities.  The study also demonstrated that students in an unattractive/disorganized room experienced a sense of monotony, irritability, and low energy.  They had no desire to stay in the room or to stick with their assignments. 

Designing specific areas is a great way to direct the type of activity and focus of students.  Areas should be created with barriers, furniture, or partitions.  It is important to note that in early childhood classrooms, special attention should be paid to ensure furniture cannot fall on or injure a child.  

Why create defined areas?  Areas that are not well-defined can cause chaos or disruptions when more than one child floods an area of activity.  Lack of clear boundaries can also cause confusion.  A child may not understand what toys and materials go with a specific activity.  Creating an area devoted to that activity instructs the child on what behavior is expected and what supplies/materials to use in that area. 

The corners of rooms make excellent reading nooks or areas for focused activities.  This is due to the fact that the corners of rooms are typically found to be away from the running traffic of children, and it is easier to block out noises and distractions.  Activities such as reading, math manipulatives, science lessons and block play require focused attention and less noise.  These types of activities should be separated into spaces that are away from high traffic areas and noisy/messy activities.  Areas used for crafts, noisy cars, make-believe time, etc. should be defined as well.  This will instill excitement and fun because the student knows what is expected of him/her. 

Visit www.WoodDesigns.com to get your layout today!

If you are still unsure on how to design the perfect classroom, Wood Designs is here to help!  Our talented design staff will take your classroom specs and turn them into beautiful and realistic 3-D renderings that demonstrate the best way to utilize your space.

Tis the Season to Be Artsy

“Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up.” -Pablo Picasso.  

This famous quote reflects not only the importance of art in the adult world, but also of its place in a child’s learning environment.  Creativity is an essential part of growth and learning that helps children to gain confidence while exploring the world around them.  Painting in early childhood is a wonderful outlet for this purpose.  It allows children to test their imaginations and improve problem-solving, all while having fun.  Painting builds self-confidence in children because you are trusting them with a messy project and allowing them to make their own decisions in the process.  This type of trust given is helpful later in life not only for them to have the courage to express themselves, but also because they are encouraged to stand firm on their own which is helpful into adulthood.  Painting puts the child in control.  They are deciding where the paint goes, what color to use and what the finished product will look like. This teaches ownership and problem-solving skills that are beneficial in many different subjects.

As we find ourselves in the midst of the Holiday season, it is a great opportunity to incorporate this festive time into creative lessons.  This allows children to explore their creativity and teaches them about different cultures.  There are many art projects that can incorporate the subject of holidays.  Painting Christmas trees and Hanukkah Menorahs, coloring paper Kwanzaa Kinaras, and drawing New Year’s fireworks are great ways of having creative fun while introducing children to other cultures.  A sensory experience can also be encouraged by having children paint with pine cones or Christmas tree branches instead of paint brushes.  This is a great way for kids to experiment with different textures and opens them up to endless possibilities. 

Wood Designs offers every type of art easel to accommodate these projects.  We have art easels for 1-4 students with chalkboards, acrylic boards, marker boards, and plywood boards for all of your art needs.  Need bins or baskets to organize those art supplies or a drying rack to dry those priceless works of art?  Visit WoodDesigns!

Technology in the Classroom-Finding the Right Balance

With the arrival of modern technology, our lives are filled with computers, smart phones, iPads, and other high-tech gadgets.  When and how are these items appropriate for use in the classroom?

Technology in the classroom is a delicate balance-too much can be a hindrance, yet avoiding it all together can be a missed opportunity.  After careful examination and research, the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Media found interactive media to be an effective tool to support learning and development in early learning years.  “When used appropriately, technology and interactive media have tremendous potential to nurture early learning and development,” said Rita Catalano, executive director of the Fred Rogers Center.  The effectiveness of this use depends on the context in which it is applied.  Technology should be relevant to the material and add a new element for engaging children.  When deciding to use technology with young children, some items to look at to determine this are: the interests of the children in question, their developmental stage, cultural background, and individual abilities.  In early childhood, the use of technology should be hands-on and engaging to the children, helping them progress in skill development at their individual rates.  It should be one part of a daily classroom routine that provides many options to support learning. 

On the contrary, technology used without guidance and education can interfere with learning and development.  Simply placing a small child in front of a TV for hours will not successfully teach them lessons.  Television shows and videos offer a more passive use of technology that does not provide the appropriate encouragement to facilitate beneficial learning.  The teacher or caregiver’s role is important in delivering the technology-assisted lesson.  Researchers have determined that technology is best avoided in children under the age of 2 and usage should be limited for ages 2-5 to obtain healthy results. Positively, technology can also assist in building relationships between teachers and students.  Examples of proper use of technology are Skype chatting with relatives who might live far away, learning to use interactive maps, listening devices, digital microscopes and cameras.  Wood Designs provides a computer desk that is perfect for housing your classroom’s computer and monitor.  Visit WoodDesigns.com to view this desk and our variety of listening storage centers to keep all of your audio equipment organized and ready for interactive learning.

The Sensory Way

It has been determined that the first three years of a child’s life are critical in the development of language, attention span, problem-solving capabilities, and social skills.  Because of this sensitive time period, it is important to promote verbal learning and social development. 

The sensorial learning approach focuses on making learning an inviting and independent experience.  This is done through the use of the senses to acquire information from the environment for the purpose of understanding.  These exercises are completed through the use of visual (sight), tactile (touch), baric (pressure/weight), thermic (temperature), auditory (sounds), and olfactory (smelling) senses.  Because sensorial learning focuses on the child completing learning tasks independently, these materials should be aesthetically pleasing.  Sensorial learning creates an inviting environment with the use of open shelves and fun manipulatives to encourage new experiences.  Open shelving is defined as a shelving unit with no back present (or if there is a back, it is transparent).  This creates an open and enticing area that allows children to see all of the materials available and encourages them to want to explore it.  This “openness” also allows students to see through the shelves, allowing them to make use of their visual senses while learning and provides them with the ability to access the materials at all times.  As they are better able to USE their senses, they are then better able to LEARN through these senses.  This interest in learning is important because studies have shown that children who do not come to school with a readiness to learn are likely to struggle throughout current and future educations.  

Sensory and science tables are excellent ways to encourage sensorial learning.  Sensory tables encourage the use of tactile and baric senses while science tables provide space and tools for young students to examine and observe objects in order to categorize and learn from them.  It is pretty clear that a successful classroom is accomplished through the use of appropriate sensorial furniture and materials.  Visit WoodDesigns.com to view our Natural Environments™ line of furniture to see how we can accommodate your sensorial needs.

Cooking up some fun!

If your preschool years were similar to mine, you spent a lot of your play time spent in the toy kitchen area.  I recall hours of fun pretending with classmates and creating imaginary mud pies.  I always thought these kitchens were just for fun, but it turns out they serve educational purposes as well.  Kitchen areas are beneficial in preschool and early childhood classrooms because they encourage improvements in motor and social skills, while providing time for role-playing. 

Kitchen sets are most often being used by multiple children at the same time.  This helps to foster a sharing environment and improves a child’s social capabilities.  Interacting with other children is a much needed skill that improves cognitive development and will assist them in future school years and life.  Research has shown that children who are able to successfully interact with their peers during preschool are more likely to have stronger friendships and feelings of acceptance later in life.  It has also been determined that poor social skills in early childhood can lead to behavioral problems later on. Cognitive and motor development and wonderful social skills sounds like a win-win!

It is important to include plastic plates, utensils, and pretend food in your kitchen area.  This allows children to practice using items they encounter in daily life, improving their motor skills.  It also initiates make-believe play in which children will pretend to cook imaginary meals and reenact household chores such as setting the table and cleaning dishes.  This role-playing is a necessary component to sparking the imaginations of children while teaching the value of responsibility by completing chores.

Wood Designs offers many options for all sizes of classrooms.  We have various kitchen sets that have individual pieces such as a ranges, sinks, cupboards, and refrigerators.  These are available in different sizes and shapes for various age levels. 

All of our items have rounded edges and corners for safety and our Tip-Me-Not™ kitchen appliances are bottom weighted and the center of gravity is lowered to greatly decrease the possibility of tipping by children.  If your classroom is small, we have various all-in-one kitchen sets that incorporate numerous appliances into one compact piece of furniture.  Visit Wood Designs to pick out the kitchen set that suits your classroom needs and let the cooking begin!

ABC's and 123's

Counting and the alphabet are some of the first lessons learned in early childhood.  After all, counting is considered the cornerstone for all future Math lessons and the ABC’s are a prerequisite for learning to read and write.  These activities don’t have to be dull, as there are many ways to make them fun and easily understandable to ages as young as 3. 

Magnetic boards are wonderful ways to make counting and alphabet recognition a playful activity.  Alphabet letters are readily available and can be placed on magnetic easels and boards so children can move them around and build words.  Children subconsciously remember the letter shapes without realizing they are learning.  Consistently looking at the shapes of the letters, even during playtime, causes the child to be familiar with the letters and makes literacy lessons easier.

Magnets are also excellent objects for counting.  The same alphabet magnets can be used in a lesson by asking children to count all of the letters of a certain color or that are vowels, etc.  Counting magnets are also commonly available.  These are usually magnetic strips that can be used as is or can be spiced up by affixing images, pom poms, or other enticing items.  Again, this activity seems like simple child’s play to the student, but is actually building a foundation for future Math classes.  (An important thing to remember is that magnets can be dangerous if ingested by small children, therefore, should always be used under close supervision).

Wood Designs offers great additions to your classroom that contain magnetic boards which are perfect for counting and alphabet fun.  Our WD54100 Big Book Display allows ample storage for books large and small with a magnetic marker board on the front to encourage letter exploration.  The Wood Designs WD95411 Art Center and WD99541 Teaching Center also have a large magnetic marker board for use in counting and alphabet lessons with magnets.  Check out www.WoodDesigns.org to see which will best suit your needs!

Blocks, Shaving Cream, and Kiddos, Oh My!

Sensory play is an important part of Preschool and Kindergarten.  It helps to build motor skills and coordination while educating small children on different tactile experiences.  A great way to do this is by using items in the classroom for multiple purposes so you get the most use out of them. 

Blocks are an excellent way to inspire the imaginations of children while teaching them problem solving.  These same blocks can be used as sensory experience for additional benefits.  Adding shaving cream as a “mortar” for building creates an entirely new experience.  The shaving cream adds a new texture for kids to explore while demonstrating how walls and building are constructed.  Additions such as food coloring for color or water beads for texture can also create new sensorial experiences to the activity. 

Although this activity can create a bit of a mess, fun clean up time can also be incorporated into the lesson.  Having the children clean the blocks with soap and water teaches responsibility and the importance of following steps, all while a great time is had by everyone.  Children will feel a sense of pride at completing the activity from start to finish and cleaning up to restore the blocks back to their common state.

Visit the Wood Designs web site and see the variety of block sets we have to offer so you can begin incorporating block and sensory play into your lessons!

Turning the page

Successfully encouraging children to read can be a challenge at times, but it is an important one to take on.  Reading is one of the most crucial skills taught in young children.  It encourages focus, a foundation that is built upon in all future years of schooling. 

One of the greatest benefits of reading is a higher aptitude for learning in general.  Children exposed to consistent reading early on are more likely to excel in all areas of formal education. Reading is a necessary tool for understanding all other lessons and subjects.  Additionally, it teaches concentration and discipline which is needed to thrive in school and life.  Being read to is extremely beneficial to young children.  Listening to a teacher read stories reinforces the basic sounds and words in language, thus improving the speech of a child.  This familiarity encourages better communication and interaction with other children and adults, while solidifying an interest in reading.

Sometimes, children may not be interested in books because they find the task boring or lack the attention needed to fully focus.  There are numerous ways to encourage literacy and make it an enjoyable event.  One of the most important ways to encourage reading is to have a large assortment of books for children to pick from.  Not every child is alike and their tastes differ accordingly.  Having a wide selection shows them there are more books to read in the future so they do not anticipate running out of choices.  

Need great storage items for your classroom library?  Wood Designs offers a variety of options such as book cases, book stands, and book displays to house all of your literacy items.  Frequent trips to the library can also entice children’s interests.  It is important to make reading a fun and enjoyable experience so why not use your imagination and create an exciting journey to the library?  Once there, create a game of finding books and seeing who can read their book first.  Create charts or fun diagrams listing which books each child has read.

Another important factor to remember when encouraging reading is that children need a comfortable and quiet place to read.  Children are easily distracted so it is important to set up a reading/literacy area that is far away from activity areas and doors so they can focus on the task at hand.  It is also helpful to provide a setting that is warm and enticing.  Comfy chairs and cushions welcome children to sit and enjoy the area with a good book.  Wood Designs has the perfect children’s furniture for your reading nook including cozy chairs, sofas, and benches that are just the right size for your students. Our Imagination Cube with its comfy cushion provides a wonderful space that is inviting for kids to cuddle up with a good book.

So remember the importance of promoting literacy in your classroom and what you can do to make it a fun and entertaining experience that will benefit the children you interact with for years to come.

Exploring the World Around Us

An important cognitive skill in preschool is the ability to observe and compare objects.  A great way to incorporate this into a classroom is through a nature walk with your class.  This fun outdoor journey encourages children’s imaginations and spikes their interest in the world around them. 

Wood Designs WD93021 Science Table

While on your walk, have children collect various natural objects such as rocks, flowers, leaves, bark, etc.  Once back in the classroom, give them the opportunity to examine the items they collected.  Children can investigate their found objects with magnifying glasses and tweezers to learn more about them.  Wood Designs manufactures a Science Table that is perfect for such exploration.  This table comes with built-in magnifiers, mirrors, and marker boards so they may examine the items with their classmates. This encourages social interaction while developing their observational skills.

Decluttering the Classroom and the Mind

Organization is an important skill to learn for any age, but it is especially important for young children.  Children as young as 15 months can walk with a parent or teacher to assist in putting away toys and supplies. 

Why is this skill so important?  Not only does organization in the classroom help the teacher with his/her tasks, it also teaches responsibility and value to children.  Putting away toys or manipulatives teaches children that these items hold value and should be treated with care.  Furthermore, when kids take on the chores of straightening up their classroom, they feel more competent and gain confidence in their abilities.  They become proud of their accomplishments and take pride in their work.  One of the biggest advantages in teaching organizational skills at a young age is that it is a tremendous benefit to the child later in life.  Studies have shown that high school children taught organizational skills when young are more apt to excel academically .  This is because they have been taught effective use of time and methods for organizing both their classes and materials.  Most academic problems are rooted in the inability to arrange their time, their workload, and commitments.  When items are tidy and in their place, it frees the mind to focus and carry out assignments.

Providing the right materials in the classroom can help to initiate organization.  Personalized lockers and cubbies help children to feel empowered and more likely to take ownership of their areas, keeping them in order.  Labeling bins with words or images for small children makes it fun to organize while teaching the importance of categorizing.  Wood Designs provides a variety of storage and cubby options for this purpose.  Multiple styles and sizes of lockers give many options for every classroom.  Wood Designs also provides numerous cubby storage styles with different colored bins to keep your rooms organized and stylish.Let us help you make organization a part of your classroom environment.

The World of Manipulatives

They can be found in most classrooms – baskets of cubes, tangrams, counters, and blocks.  These are math manipulatives and they have received much acclaim as one of the most effective ways to introduce mathematics to young children.  They are often used to assist in the learning of the concepts of problem solving, reasoning, counting, and the skill of geometry.  Much in the same way that a city map helps an adult to become familiar with a new town, manipulatives help young children to become accustomed to mathematical theories and reasoning.  This introduction makes formal mathematical lessons in the future more familiar and easier to grasp. 

The physical interaction with manipulatives is advantageous to children in a variety of ways.  As an architect constructs models to search for solutions, children use manipulative materials to solve problems.  This physical evidence of a solution not only fosters problem resolution, but also makes the lesson more memorable because there is a visual representation to go along with it.  This teaches abstract reasoning and encourages independent thinking, raising a child’s confidence level.  This form of three-dimensional teaching can be used in children of all ages.  Young children can learn counting with the use of blocks and shapes while older school age children can use them to learn more complex concepts.

No matter what the age or the lesson, manipulatives make useful tools for solving problems while making the exercise enjoyable and motivational.  Wood Designs offers a variety of units to house your manipulatives.  These products provide open shelving which is conducive to Montessori teaching and a raised lip on the top to allow children to move objects around and experiment.  We pride ourselves on the functionality and features of these classroom options.

Splashing Fun with Sand & Water Tables

In most early childhood classrooms you will find a sand and water or sensory table.  This is not only because they are great fun for children, but because they are also important in the world of movement play.  Movement play involves the use of moveable items that react and can be manipulated to teach cause & effect, math/science, social skills and motor control.

These sensory tables are commonly filled with water, sand, shapes and other tactile elements.  Usually 2-4 children will use a sensory table at one time.  This allows for sharing lessons and group interaction.  Children are forced to work within close proximity of each other and learn to work together.  This cooperative play is a beneficial skill to develop at this age as it will affect their social interactions now and later in life.

Through the use of these tables, children are able to experience how items react to their movements.  When using a sand or water table, for example, a child can explore what happens when they move water this way or that, when they scoop sand up with objects, when they combine it with other ingredients.  Handling different objects and moving them through the sand or water can also help to develop a child’s hand/eye coordination and gross motor skills.  Sensory tables can facilitate important math and science lessons.  A good way to introduce these subjects to children is by placing various sized containers and objects near and in the table.  Children will naturally experiment by filling up the different sized containers, thus introducing lessons on volume and displacement.  Kids also love playing with objects in the water.  Caregivers can use this fun time as a time to discuss and test which objects float and which items sink. 

Want to change up the sensory table play time?  There are many ways to create new and interesting experiences.  An easy way to do this is to add different colors to the water so children can mix new colors on their own.  Another fun tactile experiment is to add cornstarch to the water to create a different texture and sensation.  Bubbles are yet another exciting way to change up the sensory experience for your students.

Sensory tables are a common element in classrooms for a reason-they teach a variety of lessons and improve interaction in children.  And-they are fun!  Wood Designs offers a variety of sizes of sand and water sensory tables to suit your classroom needs.  Check out our sensory section at WoodDesigns.com to see what we have in stock for your room.

The Fundamentals of Doll Play

Playing with dolls may not seem to be an educational experience, but play is the foundation for learning in young children.  These objects provide not only fun, but also valuable learning experiences.  

So, how do dolls make this happen?  When children play with dolls or play “house” they often are doing so with other classmates.  This fosters the learning of vocabulary and language skills.  Children learn to communicate through speaking to other children and often will pick up new words this way.  Doll play also allows children to reenact what they witness in their everyday life-using phrases he/she often hears, staging household chores and activities they witness adults doing in their real life.  This improves their problem-solving skills and allows children to learn the different roles people play in the world. 

Doll play also serves an emotional need in children.  A doll is an image of a human being, often a child.  Because of this, it is a great toy to develop a positive self-image in children.  Children can relate to the doll since it is so similar to their own features.  This commonality helps children to display emotions and work through them with the use of the doll.  An upset child may be mean or yell at a doll.  This an excellent way for children to express their emotions and release tension in a constructive manner. 

This beneficial play can be encouraged with the availability of doll furniture.  A doll highchair invites a child to prepare food and feed their doll, acting out a parental role.  Other items such as doll beds and strollers further encourage this experience and make pretend time even more exciting.  Wood Designs offers a variety of these items.  Check out WoodDesigns.com to see what items you can add to the “house” in your classroom.

Encouraging Reading

Reading is a much needed skill that is fundamental in the foundation for knowledge.  There are many ways to encourage reading and to get the most out of reading lessons.  The best way to introduce young children to reading is by reading out loud to them.  Reading out loud is beneficial to any age group of children as it increases their vocabulary.  It is also important to recite the book with enthusiasm.  Alter your tone to fit different events and moods in the story and use unique voices for various characters.  This extra effort will engage children and keep them excited and interested in the story.  Encouraging preschoolers to write their own books can also be helpful.  If the children are too young to write, have them create their own story with cut-out pictures and drawings assembled into a book.  

It is also helpful to fill your classroom with reading references such as alphabet charts, letter drawings and picture labels.  Labeling is a very useful way to cultivate good readers.  Label lockers, supplies, and many of the items in your classroom to have reading continuously represented and reinforced.  Labeling lockers with the children’s names also encourages reading and instills pride in kids.   All of these items should be placed at the eye level of children so they can easily be seen.

Wood Designs provides Listening Centers which are instrumental in learning.  These desks are designed with upper compartments to store books and audio devices.  This allows children to listen and follow along in a book to improve their reading skills.  

Visit www.WoodDesigns.com to view our Listening and Writing Centers and various sizes of book displays to encourage reading in your classroom!

Tables and chairs

When purchasing items for your classroom, the size of chairs and tables are extremely important.  If furniture is disproportionate to the child, they can feel confined or lacking in confidence.  Tables, for example, should allow a child to sit in a chair comfortably without their legs being pinned.  Having the space too tight for them can cause distress and make them feel trapped rather than able to focus on their lesson.  Conversely, the table should not be too large or it can intimidate a child.  Research shows that oversized furniture makes young children feel small and helpless because they are being overwhelmed by their surroundings. 

What do you do in a room with different- sized children?  A perfect solution is the use of our adjustable tables.  Wood Designs now offers our same high quality Birch hardwood tables with adjustable legs.  These exclusive tables allow for adjustments from 18” to 26” high, allowing a wide array of heights that are adaptable to different sized children. 

Chair size should also be appropriate for children.  The optimal chair will allow a child’s feet to touch the ground without dangling.  Our Woodie chairs are excellent for small children and offer a variety of sizes to match the child.  For taller kids, we offer our Birch hardwood tables ranging from 10” to 18.” 

Having the appropriate sized furniture will help children to feel confident and comfortable.  This will allow them to focus on their education and provide them with necessary self-assurance.  Stop by WoodDesigns.com to see what we have to offer for your room.

Art in Schools

Art Center for Two and Art Center for Four.
Available in Natural Finish, Strawberry Red™,
Green Apple™,  and Blueberry™.

The use of art in the classroom is a very important one.  It contributes to many aspects of development while providing hours of fun and confidence.  There are many forms of creative art that can be incorporated in the preschool classroom, and easel painting has been found to be wonderfully successful.

Physically, painting helps children to hone their fine motor skills and thought processing.  By holding paintbrushes, children exercise their muscles.  This helps a child to learn to better control their movements to accomplish a goal.  Cognitively, painting provides important challenges for kids to work through.  A child must determine for themselves how to keep paint on the paintbrush, how to get paint onto the paper, how to make this or that shape, how to create different colors, etc.  These challenges encourage problem-solving and self- exploration.

Art is also emotionally important to children.  Painting is typically a less-structured project and allowing children to perform this messy activity shows they are being trusted.  This faith instills confidence in children.  It is important to praise a child’s artwork and share it with others in the classroom, furthering their self-esteem. Displaying artwork also shows children that others have different points of view and express them differently.  Furthermore, art is a great way to express feelings and emotions in a safe way.  It allows children to control their emotions and find constructive ways to express them.

Double, Threeway, and Four sided Easels.
Available with red or brown trays.

Easel painting, specifically when it is a paired easel, helps children to grow socially.  Wood Designs provides single, double, and four person easels.  This encourages kids to work in close proximity of each other and to share materials.  This also encourages conversation and the sharing of techniques and ideas-all important in social development.  Check out the various types of easels at WoodDesigns.com and enlighten your classroom today!    

Gardening Activities

Gardening is a wonderful lesson to include in classrooms of all ages.  Children love feeling the dirt, watching bugs, and other curious activities.  This lesson not only teaches where our food comes from and the importance of nutrition, but also teaches about nature and how to work as a team.

Making their own garden is a fun activity for all children.  This can be done very affordably by recycling household items into gardening supplies and containers.  Paper cups and egg cartons make excellent pots for sprouting.  This allows children to watch sprouts as they first begin to grow and initiates discussions.  This is an excellent time to explain to children what plants need to grow and the correlation between a seedling and a growing child.  Milk cartons and jugs make excellent watering cans and having each child bring in their own watering container teaches them ownership.  This allows each child to contribute to watering the garden and working together for one purpose.  This helps the kids to interact with each other and work as a team.  Moreover, digging holes, watering plants, and weeding help to improve gross motor skills.

A fun addition to your gardening lessons is to create a meal from the foods you have grown at the end of the season.  For example, growing tomatoes, onions, herbs, etc. will allow you to make pasta sauce or pizza sauce for a class meal.  This teaches the children where their food comes from and can lead into a discussion on the importance of farmers and good nutrition.

Food gardens are fun, but not the only option out there.  A butterfly garden is an excellent idea to teach observational skills and life cycles.  In order to do this, grow plants that are appealing to butterflies.  Instruct the children to take notes of the different colors of butterflies, different markings, sizes, etc.  You can then have a group discussion on their favorite butterflies and what they saw.  If constructed at the right time, you can display caterpillars and their life cycle into a beautiful butterfly.  These lessons can also be made more detailed and science-oriented for older students.

Lastly, other lessons can always be incorporated into any of these activities.  Language and alphabet lessons can be intertwined by including garden related coloring sheets.  Flash cards and labels can be constructed with helpful phonetic lessons such as G is for garden, C is for carrot, and so on.  Wood Designs' bins and lids are the perfect containers for gardening supplies and organization.

Gardens are an excellent year long activity that teaches children many things.  Social interaction and team work are beneficial lessons learned in the process along with plant and animal life cycles.  Nutritional lessons and tasty meals can also result from fun garden time inside and outside of the classroom.  All in all, great lessons that are fun and informative will liven up your curriculum and help students process in new ways.

Teaching with Puppets

Wood Designs offers a wide variety of Puppet Theaters.

Puppetry is the use of inanimate objects in the form of a living character.  This is most commonly done by the use of finger or hand puppets.  Puppets have been used for over four thousand years as forms of entertainment and education.  Time has proven they are an excellent way to initiate a discussion or teach lessons to young students. 

Puppets are a great tool with small children because they mimic play time while delivering knowledge.  The use of puppets can get even the most hyper child’s attention and ease the delivery of information.  Children enjoy the colorful looks of puppets and their distinctive personalities.  One way to deliver a lesson would be to have a cast of puppets teaching addition or singing a song about learning colors.  Engaging children with this imaginative play is an excellent way to educate them while keeping it lighthearted and entertaining.

Puppetry is also wonderful for social development and the delivery of important rules.  For example, if a child treats another student poorly or teases, it may be helpful to use puppets as a way to explain why this is not a nice way to behave.  A great use of puppetry would be to act out the problematic situation with the puppets in the classroom and have the students and puppets suggest better ways to handle the situation.  This allows the children to know what is acceptable behavior and how to handle a situation when the rules are not followed without embarrassing the child who might have misbehaved.

Another great past time is to allow the children to create their own puppets and puppet shows.  Finger puppets are easily constructed with paper, felt or cloth being wrapped around the finger and decorated.  Larger puppets can be purchased or cut out of paper and taped or glued to popsicle sticks.  Even making sock puppets can be a creative outlet for kids. Allowing children to decorate and make up stories with their own puppets can also be just as beneficial by enabling them to tell a story or ask a social question without anxiety. 

Wood Designs manufactures puppet theaters that are excellent for housing your puppets and providing a stage to play on.  These are available in two different sizes and can be purchased with chalkboard, marker board or flannel board fronts.  There is appropriate shelving in the back of the unit to allow for puppet or prop storage.  These theaters are great for interactive play and provide a natural look. 

The Power of Music

Have you ever wondered why kids often learn their alphabet by singing the ABC’s?  Music is a very powerful teaching tool.  Neurobiologists have found that music exists in every culture.  Parents in every country sing to their children and teach them through music.  This is because of many reasons.  Most children’s songs are filled with alliteration and rhymes.  This helps children to recognize sounds of different words and to increase their vocabulary.  Often, teachers find it beneficial to use music to teach phonics because of this reason.  The repetition in music is also helpful because it implants facts and phrases firmly into a child’s memory.  Most of us can still recite catchy songs about state capitols or the names of the presidents that helped us to remember important factoids.  This is because music drives deep into the brain and is easily stored and recalled.  Because of this, large amounts of information can be processed, stored, and recalled by the brain when memorized through the use of music.

Wood Designs WD12990 Bookshelves are perfect
for storing music instruments and music books.

Research has shown that music stimulates brain function.  It readies the brain to absorb knowledge.  This may be a key reason why music is so helpful in teaching children with disabilities.  Children with language and learning difficulties benefit from phonetic songs teaching spelling.  The music and melody holds their attention while imprinting linguistics.  Teaching your child to “self-talk” through a difficult word by singing a song can greatly help with their reading lessons.

Music is also a great way to control behavior in children.  Classical music or jazz can help to calm a hyper or upset child and may assist with nap time as well.  Energetic music is an excellent way to get a child’s attention and get them to engage more.  Incorporating the use of musical instruments, clapping, and dancing can keep the attention of younger students and be more effective than a typical lesson.  With older students, including a song with a history lesson makes a bigger impact for the students.  With music, children are learning without knowing they are learning!  This is effective for both the teacher and the student. 

The Naptime Struggle

Nap time.  Some dread it, some can’t wait for it to arrive.  Many adults would probably be thrilled to have a nap in the middle of their work day, but unfortunately they are usually reserved for the youth. Either way, it’s a much needed part of a child’s day.  Napping allows their bodies and minds to recharge, while improving sour moods.  It has also been theorized that nap time aids cognitive developement  and physical growth by allowing the body some time to rest and recuperate from activity.  Missing nap time can lead to crankiness and a decrease in physical activity.  Medical research has even found a connection between missed sleep in children and childhood obesity.


So how do you facilitate the nap?  It is important to first create an environment conducive to sleep.  If possible, place the children in the quietest part of the room and dim the lights.  Most children go to sleep easier with relaxing music played at a moderate level.  If your classroom is near a noisy room, soothing music can help to drown out the noise as well.  Reading a short story can also help to get children ready for a nap.  Some teachers find it helpful to place glow in the dark shapes or stars on the ceiling of the classroom to give children something to look at while drifting away.  Always be consistent with your routine so the kids know what to expect.


A comfortable resting place is also needed to initiate sleep.  The cots offered by Wood Designs are perfect for this situation!  Our cots stack vertically for efficient use of space and are extremely comfortable.  Wood Designs’ cots are made from anti-sagging nylon material to provide your little students with a relaxing bed to sleep on and allow easy removal for washing.  Adding a child’s favorite blanket or stuffed animal can also help to initiate a comforting environment to sleep in.


The nap time battle can be tiresome, but naptime is very much needed for both teacher and student.  Try to figure out what tactics work best for your children and adapt as needed.

Balance and Coordination

Balance and coordination are important skills to develop in small children and are necessary for future strength and endurance.  Balance helps children to gain both confidence and gross motor skills.  Some ways to build balance and gross motor coordination are through various activities and playtime.  Wood Designs offers a versatile unit called the Rock-A-Boat.  This item is tip proof and excellent at encouraging fun time and development.  On one side the unit is a rowboat that children sit inside to rock back and forth.  Simply flip the boat over, and a set of inviting steps appear.  Also available is the balance beam.  This is a simple, but classic maple beam that invites kids to walk across it.  Both products help to develop balance and coordination in kids.

There are other ways to incorporate coordination training in small children.  Jumping rope, hopscotch, and playing with balls are great ways to work on coordination while still having fun.  Wooden blocks (such as the variety provided by Wood Designs) are another excellent way to develop coordination skills.  Playing with finger puppets, creating art projects, and lacing shoes are all excellent ways to develop control and motor skills in the fingers of young children.

So be creative and have fun, but also remember these skills are crucial in furthering physical and mental development in children.  Your kids can have a blast and not even realize they are learning! Win-win!

The Importance of Role Play

 One very important way that children learn about the world around them is thru role playing.  Just about every kid loves dressing up in costume or reenacting the role of a character.  This imitative play is not only normal, but beneficial to learning.  The simple act of role playing accomplishes much in your child’s mind.  It actually engages emotion, cognition, language and sensory motor skills, and encourages social interaction.


Wood Designs Dramatic Play Package



Everyone can remember how much fun dressing up like a princess or firefighter was when they were younger and it is just as much fun for children now.  Often times, children role play with each other.  Usually they take turns playing leader, negotiating and instructing while others follow direction.  This encourages cooperation and team work-both important in developing social skills.

Dramatic play such as this also helps children to recognize the difference between fantasy and reality.  As any child knows, anything is possible in your imagination.  A piece of scrap paper denotes money and a simple stack of blocks is a beautiful castle.  The realization that this is make believe helps to formulate what reality is to children and what is and is not possible.  A child may dream of a castle and horse in their backyard and enjoy pretending they are there.  The reality they come to understand is that this is not a reasonable wish outside of pretend time and is intended for playtime fodder.

Providing costumes and dress up stations is a great way to encourage these adventures.  Wood Designs provides two different size Dress Up centers that allow room for shoes, wands, hats, hanging clothes, and just about anything your children can come up with.  The Dress Up centers also include a mirror so children may astonish themselves at their transformations.  Checkout www.WoodDesigns.org to see all we have to encourage your young one's imagination!

Block Party

Blocks are one of the most versatile toys in a child’s world and are educational as well.  Wooden blocks are a standard element of daycares and schools across the world.  These blocks are constructed from natural wood and are carefully sanded to prevent injury or splinters.  Blocks come in a variety of sizes based on age and purpose, with smaller and more detailed blocks being used with older children.  They can come in numerous shapes, but all create fun possibilities.

Every child loves playing with blocks whether it’s by building a castle or for simple counting time.  When a child uses blocks to act out their fantasies, it causes them to visualize an object and use their mind to determine how to make that a reality.  These wooden units can be used during private play to develop confidence or in group play to build social skills and encourage team play.  Blocks can also be used as educational tools for mathematical learning.  Adding, subtracting, multiplying and even dividing can be demonstrated visually with these items.  Research has found that this type of hands on learning is not only more interesting to the child, but also creates a longer memory of the lesson because it provides a personal representation of the problem and solution. 

To enrich play, incorporate accessories to be used in conjunction with the blocks.  This can be fun and entertaining for children to create themselves.  Sticks with play dough tops become trees and mushrooms, rocks become cars or people, plastic bins become homes and buildings, etc.  These crafted items encourage children to use their imaginations and to recycle and repurpose items. The options are endless!

Lastly, it is important to teach children how to put away the blocks after playtime.  This not only keeps the area neat and clean, but encourages organizational skills and independence.  Children develop pride when they contribute to picking up and straightening an area.

Wood Designs offers a variety of block sets for children of all age groups and levels.  These items are constructed from light hardwood and come in 24 different shapes.  They come in sets varying from nursery age on up to classroom age.  We also offer block storage centers and bins to store these classic playtime favorites.  Check out WoodDesigns.com to see all of the blocks and other products that we can offer for your little ones.

Earthy

The Latest Trend in Day care and Schools

With Earth Day approaching quickly on April 22, it seems appropriate to discuss one of the recent trends in day cares and schools.  Society as a whole is leaning more toward natural products.

Since prehistoric times, children have used organic items such as sticks, leaves, and other natural items in their environment to play and learn.  This causes the child to use their imagination more to assume the role of parents, warriors, princesses, etc.  This can also be said for the use of natural woods and materials in the classroom.   These materials not only encourage imaginative play, but also interaction with other children.  It leads to resourcefulness when the child sees a stick and imagines it can be a wand, a bone, a tree, etc.  A molded, synthetic item is less likely to encourage such creativity.  This type of play has been theorized to engage children mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally-giving confidence and excitement.  It is also thought to be a beneficial way to focus the attention of children with special needs.

Many schools are realizing the importance of natural materials such as wood blocks and rods for counting and play.  These items are easily recognized by children because they see wooden items and trees all around them.  Play centers, tables, and toys made from wood and natural fibers are also more pleasing to the touch.  These natural items are “warmer” and more inviting to feel and are more durable than most synthetic items.  Moreover, it is often safer for children to play with natural products.  There is less risk of chemicals in wooden/natural items than in molded plastic and synthetically engineered items.  The use of organic materials is also friendlier to our surroundings-lasting longer and causing less waste.  They often are more sustainable materials and have a smaller footprint on our environment.

While technology is important in this modern world, natural exploration and the use of organic materials are also beneficial.  These materials are essential in helping to support our environment and encouraging healthy environments to our children.

Wood Designs has been ahead of this trend and has offered GREENGUARD™ Children & Schools certified products for years-making all products safe and healthy for indoor environments and without the use of dangerous chemicals and laminates.  Our Natural Environments line also gives the look of nature with earthy brown tones and finished wood.  These products focus on visually stimulating children to encourage imagination and cognitive development.  

The Importance of Sensory Play for Preschoolers and Toddlers

The Importance of Sensory Play for Preschoolers and Toddlers

Preschool age children learn through their five senses: touch, sight, smell, taste, and hearing.  These senses are used to explore the world around them and to learn through those experiences.  As educators and parents, it is important to recognize this method and assist them by providing activities involving sensory play. 

The most commonly used sense in children is sight.  Providing a variety of shapes and colors is an excellent way to enhance a child’s learning.  Children often benefit from activities which involve comparing different size shapes and colors.  Craft and art projects are a wonderful way to stimulate a child’s sense of sight.

Hearing is a highly beneficial sense in the classroom as well.  Music and sounds are often included in learning toys and programs because children are able to excel when a concept is set to music or sounds.  Music also encourages coordination and motor skills development while teaching children to dance and keep the beat.

The sense of touch is another frequently useful tool for learning.  Starting from birth, children gather information by touching objects and learning through different textures.  Sensory tables are placed in preschools to assist with this process.  These tables contain items with objects of varied sizes and textures for children to explore.

Taste and smell are vital in the educational setting too.  Although exploration through the sense of taste must be closely monitored, edible doughs or treats during snack time can be used to assist children in trying assorted textures of safe foods.  The sense of smell is very important, linking us to memories and sentimental times in our life.  To stimulate this sense, have conversations with children about what flowers or other items smell like to them.

Sensory play is essential for a child’s growth and development.  We are responsible for encouraging children to use all five senses to explore their world.  Wood Designs provides a variety of sensory furniture that is safe for children and encourages such methods of learning.  Our Deluxe Science table includes magnifiers and mirrors for children to examine objects to better understand them.  The Sensory & Water table is another product from Wood Designs that focuses on tactile learning.  This table can be filled with sand or water to allow for the exploration of textures and objects while having fun.  The table comes with a lid which doubles as a work surface to be used in other creative sensory projects.

To fill your classroom or home with wonderful and safe sensory products, please check out these items and our many others in the Sensory & Physical Activity section on our web site at WoodDesigns.com.


Pictured above: Workbench with 4 Translucent Trays and Wooden Blocks, 2 Shelf Open Divider with Wooden Blocks, Art Center for Four, Sand & Water Table with Lid/Shelf, Build-N-Play Table.>