Play Centres

A child's play is more than frolic. Through play children learn to imitate animal noises, recognize alphabets and numbers, understand about sharing and getting along with their peers. They develop their large muscle skills by running, walking, climbing or riding a bike; their small muscles skills by colouring, cutting, pasting and painting. And this just scratches the surface.

A quality child care program, whether at a daycare centre, dayhome or at the child's home, gives a child the opportunity to develop to his or her full potential. It provides equipment with which to learn, an environment that stiumlates curosity, and a nurturing caregiver who bonds it all together.

Old Standbys

Old standbys - like blocks, stacking things, balls, dolls, crayons, puzzles, push toys, and the likes are the equipment children will return to again and again at various stages. The are the backbone to learning centres, a small area of activity devoted to specific type of play: art, math, reading, crafts, etc. Learning centres can be set up at home on trays, little tables, or on a shelf as is the case with the reading centre. Different centres allow caregivers to guide a child's learning by providing suggestions or guidance on what to do with the materials provided. Of course a child's imagination should be allowed free reign within a centre to encourage creativity. Regardless of what the child does with the materials, he/she is learning something about the materials, his/her ability to manipulate and work with the equipment at hand. What's more, two or more children working cooperatevily to build a block town or to cook dinner are learning social skills.

The learning centres available are endless. In the next few weeks we will look at some different centres, what materials they require, and what children learn at these centres. For more information on setting up play centres in your home or daycare centre, consult the wonderful book, Start and Run a Profitable Home Day Care in the Parenting Section on our Book Shelf.