As research proves the benefits of early childhood education, there&#;s a push for more states to require PreK programs. Educators can prepare now by learning how to create engaging environments for little learners. It begins with choosing high-quality early childhood classroom furniture.
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Little Kids are Primed for Big Learning
Let&#;s begin with an intriguing thought: If intelligence is defined as the ability to learn, children between the ages of 2 and 7 may be the most intelligent humans on the planet.
The Edutopia article titled, &#;Why Ages 2&#;7 Matter So Much for Brain Development,&#; explains how children&#;s brains develop in spurts called &#;critical periods.&#; The first occurs around age 2 and concludes around age 7, with a second one occurring during adolescence. At the start of these periods, the number of connections (synapses) between brain cells (neurons) doubles.
This first period of brain development is particularly critical. It provides a golden opportunity to lay the foundation for a holistic education for children. Four ways to maximize this critical period include encouraging a love of learning, focusing on breadth instead of depth, paying attention to emotional intelligence, and not treating young children&#;s education as merely a precursor to &#;real&#; learning.
Is There a Difference Between Preschool and PreK? Yes!
How the PreK classroom is furnished includes a lot of nuance to meet specific learning goals. For this blog, we&#;re focused on how to select classroom furniture for pre-kindergarten (PreK) classrooms, not preschool. They are not the same.
Preschool programs typically serve children between 2 and 4 years old, while PreK is usually reserved for 4- and 5-year-olds. Both preschool and PreK have school readiness as a focus in their programs. But the curriculum is different.
Preschool is heavily focused on play. The PreK curriculum is designed to get kids ready for kindergarten, through academic and social emotional learning (SEL), and fun activities that strengthen fine motor skills. Activities also emphasize helping students develop foundational knowledge in literacy, math, writing, science and more. Students are given plenty of opportunities to interaction and collaborate with others, too.
Research Shows the Benefits of PreK Education
The National Institute for Early Childhood Research says that research has overwhelmingly found that children benefit from attending PreK. They are better prepared for school, less likely to be held back, demonstrate better cognitive and language skills in kindergarten, and have fewer behavior problems in the classroom.
Tennessee&#;s targeted PreK program is a solid example of how PreK can boost school readiness. An ongoing independent evaluation has found that during the year before kindergarten, PreK children develop literacy, language and math skills faster than non-participating children. Gains made by PreK children are 37 to 176% greater than those of non-PreK children and persist into the elementary grades.
When they begin kindergarten, PreK children are rated more highly than their peers on teachers&#; assessments of overall school readiness, too.
5 Tips for Selecting Early Childhood Classroom Furniture
So, how does this information influence choosing PreK classroom furniture? The right furniture sets the stage to launch profound early learning by cuing students thoughts, feelings and actions. The furniture defines the space and figuratively speaks to students.
For example, a carpet square for circle time conveys a more relaxed vibe. A comfortable, right-sized student chair and collaborative activity table, says, &#;It&#;s time to calm your body, quiet your voice, and focus on the instructions or task ahead.&#;
At Smith System, we know that young students are especially sensitive to their environment. Here&#;s what we tell schools to consider when selecting PreK student chairs, tables and storage designed to welcome students and support busy teachers.
PreK Furniture Size: Scale to Students&#; World
There&#;s a lot more to effective early childhood school furniture than simply scaling-down elementary classroom furniture. PreK kids are still developing confidence in controlling their bodies. They need to feel stable and supported. In short (pun intended), chairs should be right-sized so students&#; feet touch the floor when they sit. Table height should allow their arms to naturally rest for fine-motor work.
For PreK students, classroom chair height should be 12 inches and classroom table height about 22 inches. At the kindergarten level, chair height changes to an equal mix of 12-inch chairs and 14-inch chairs. Kindergarten table height is an equal mix of 22- and 24-inch heights. See Smith System&#;s Classroom Furniture Height Guide.
PreK Seating: Mix it up. Keep it comfy.
Most kids in PreK have very pliable bodies. They like to sit (or straddle, spread out, bounce, etc.) in the most creative ways. It&#;s fun! That&#;s why it&#;s so important to give them options for traditional and nontraditional classroom seating.
Smith&#;s Flavors® Stack Chair is a four-position school chair that allows the student to sit comfortably facing front, either side or rear. A flexible seat back contains, but doesn&#;t restrict, fidgeting. In fact, more movement encourages the student to be alert and happy, by assuring that they are both mentally and physically comfortable.
For nontraditional seating, consider Smith&#;s Oodle® stool. The basic Oodle features three cylinder-shaped components, each 17 inches in diameter and 6.5 inches high.
Educators can set them up for use individually or assist students in stacking them higher. Additionally, by simply flipping a separate, floor-facing disc insert 180 degrees, students can sit still (the insert&#;s flat side) or enjoy 10 degrees of multidirectional rocking motion (the insert&#;s convex side).
PreK Tables: Soft Curves and Angles
Shape, another design element of early childhood furniture, can subtly communicate familiarity and comfort to students. Activity tables with soft curves and gentle angles are welcoming to tender ages.
Smith System offers a full suite of table options in various fun, yet highly functional, shapes. Many feature fixed-height with glide, fixed-height with caster, or adjustable-height. Consider the Elemental® Horseshoe Table, the Elemental® 5-Star Table (accommodates five students) or the Elemental® 6-Star Table (accommodates six students).
There&#;s also the Elemental® Kidney Table or the playful Interchange® Cookie Table. It has a versatile shape that can be used as a single &#;cookie&#; table or joined with other &#;cookies&#; for a larger collaborative space.
PreK Storage: Cubbies Corral the Clutter
Keeping the PreK classroom organized is a must for teacher sanity and student safety. In addition, an organized classroom helps students focus as they learn better self-control, physically and mentally.
Having a durable, kid-friendly system can both maximize storage and make cleaning-up part of the curriculum. Smith&#;s mobile Cascade® Cubby, especially the six-compartment unit, offers a low, open-shelf layout that students can easily reach. Scalable and flexible, Cascade Cubbies are a comprehensive classroom shelving solution for any learning environment.
PreK Furniture Color: Bright Without Bombarding
There&#;s an art to choosing color in PreK classrooms. It can be a powerful design principle, in positive and negative ways, setting the mood and defining spaces. While the temptation may be to fill a PreK space with brightly colored furniture, think through the entire classroom design, including its contents, too. Brightly colored student artwork, manipulatives and books can create a busy backdrop.
Some schools choose a neutral background for PreK classrooms, with a few well-chosen accent colors in table edges and legs, and chair finishes and shell colors. Smith System offers a vast spectrum of colors to complement classroom design goals.
PreK Furniture Quality: Durable for Little Doers
Kids of the PreK age are still learning how to control their bodies. Coordination, size and strength vary widely, which can make students hard on their surroundings.
When choosing new furnishings for your early educational environment, go for quality and check the warranty. Many manufacturers offer a one-year limited warranty. Smith System offers a lifetime warranty on frames and legs and a 12-year warranty on tables and desktops. For details, see Smith System® Limited Lifetime Warranty.
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Set the Stage for High-Quality PreK Learning with High-Quality PreK Furniture
Choosing high quality furniture for early childhood education classroom doesn&#;t automatically equate to a high-quality learning experience. But the right PreK student chairs, desks and storage can set the stage to foster a love of learning in a safe, comfortable, engaging space. That goes a long way to creating a more level playing field for all early learners. (FYI: How School Classroom Furniture Can Improve Student Learning.)
To prepare for upcoming PreK mandates in your community, contact Smith System today. We inspire the PreK&#;12 classroom experience with innovative school classroom furniture built for learning.
Resources
https://abcearlylearning.com/preschool-vs-pre-kindergarten-similarities-and-differences
https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-ages-2-7-matter-so-much-brain-development
https://nieer.org/wp-content/uploads//08/YB_Executive_Summary_.pdf
https://outscholar.com/is-preschool-required-heres-what-the-law-says/
https://www.route-fifty.com/health-human-services//11/cost-states-expand-free-pre-k-under-biden-plan//
http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/resources/policy-briefs/pre-k-matters
As a leader in preschool furniture, I&#;ve faced many challenges in creating the ideal learning environment. Choosing furniture for your preschool is a crucial component that affects not only the aesthetics of your young children but also their safety and learning development.
Choosing preschool furniture fits to consider safety, ergonomics, adaptability, educational value and aesthetic appeal. At Xiha Montessori, we specialize in making furniture that meets these criteria, ensuring a safe, engaging and developmentally appropriate environment for young learners.
Furniture is crucial in creating a safe, functional, and stimulating learning environment for young children. By focusing on the specific needs of preschoolers, we can ensure that the furniture we choose meets their physical requirements and enhances their cognitive and social development. With so many options available, choosing the right furniture for your preschool can be a daunting task. In this blog, we&#;ll explore what needs to be considered when selecting furniture for your preschool to ensure it meets the needs of your students and staff.
When choosing furniture for your preschool, several essential factors must be considered to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment. Making the wrong choice can lead to increased costs and even potential danger to young children.
Preschool furniture encompasses a variety of items, each serving a distinct purpose. Understanding the different types of furniture available can help you make informed decisions that enhance the learning environment.
Tables and Chairs
Tables and chairs are the basic components of preschool furniture. They must be durable, easy to clean and ergonomically designed. Preschool activities require tables with multiple uses. Here is our selection of tables and chairs suitable for preschool classrooms.
Storage Solutions
Storage furniture helps keep the classroom organized and clutter-free. It includes items like shelves, cubbies, and cabinets that store toys, books, and learning materials.
Floor Mats
Floor mats are versatile pieces of preschool furniture. They provide a comfortable area for various activities, from storytime to nap time.
Arts and Media
Arts and media furniture support creative activities and digital learning. This category includes easels, art tables, and media centers.
If you want to buy furniture for your nursery, contact Xiha Montessori.
We are a preschool furniture manufacturer and supplier with 20 years of experience; we have served more than 2,000 kindergartens and educational institutions nationwide, and from classroom design to preschool furniture purchase, we provide a one-stop service.
Preschool learning environments stimulate a child&#;s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning in a space that supports and enhances the educational experience of young children (typically ages 3 to 5). This environment is created to promote cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development through a variety of activities and interactions. It allows children to have an enjoyable school day.
Creating a preschool learning environment requires thoughtful planning and attention to detail. Classroom colors, classroom layouts, furniture and resources need to be considered.
Choosing preschool furniture is the first step in designing a preschool facility. As a preschool owner or parent, purchasing furniture for a preschool can be a daunting task. You must ensure the furniture is comfortable, durable and safe for children. In addition to these considerations, many other factors must be considered when purchasing furniture for your nursery. So, let&#;s learn some tips about choosing preschool furniture.
Understand the size of furniture as it relates to preschoolers. Furniture must be appropriately sized to ensure comfort and accessibility. This includes chairs and tables that are the right height for children to sit comfortably with their feet flat on the floor and their arms at the right height for movement. It&#;s about striking a balance between furniture that is safe for children and usable, fostering independence and confidence.
Variety in seating options is key in a preschool setting. This includes traditional chairs, soft seating, floor cushions, and benches. Different seating options cater to various activities and learning styles, promoting flexibility and creativity. It&#;s important to provide a range of seating that supports different postures and movements, effectively facilitating individual and group activities.
The design of preschool desks should prioritize safety and ergonomics. Gentle curves and rounded edges minimize the risk of injury, while angled or adjustable surfaces cater to various activities, from writing to crafting. Desks should offer a comfortable space for children to engage in learning activities, with enough room for their materials and personal space.
Effective storage solutions in preschool environments help maintain organization and accessibility, fostering a sense of order and independence as children learn to retrieve and return materials independently. Storage units should be located at an appropriate height for young children, have open shelves and be clearly labeled to encourage self-service and responsibility.
The color palette of preschool furniture can significantly influence the classroom&#;s atmosphere. Bright, engaging colors stimulate learning and creativity, while more subdued tones can create a calming environment. It&#;s about creating a balance, using color to delineate different classroom areas and aid in young learners&#; cognitive development.
The materials used in preschool furniture ensure safety, durability, and functionality. Preschool furniture is typically made from various materials, each with its advantages. Understanding these materials can help you choose the best options for your preschool.
The following are common preschool furniture materials:
MaterialsCharacteristicsSolid Wood1. Highly durable and long-lasting.Sharp corners can pose a significant risk to young children, who are often active and unaware of potential hazards. Rounded edges on furniture minimize the risk of injuries from falls or bumps.
Furniture with rounded edges not only improves safety but also adds to the aesthetic appeal of the classroom. Smooth lines and curves create a more harmonious and inviting environment that encourages exploration and learning.
Designing a preschool classroom requires careful planning to create a safe, engaging, and functional environment.
Understanding the differences between preschool and kindergarten is essential when designing a classroom. Preschool focuses on developing basic social, emotional, and cognitive skills through play-based learning. In contrast, kindergarten is more structured, emphasizing academic readiness.
Key Differences:
Preschool programs offer many benefits that contribute to the overall development of children.
The preschool program provides rich learning experiences that promote cognitive growth. Improves problem-solving skills, creativity, and early literacy and numeracy.
Children learn to interact with peers and adults and develop basic social skills. Preschool helps children learn to share, take turns, and resolve conflicts.
The preschool program includes motor skills that promote physical development. Fine motor skills are developed through drawing and cutting, while gross motor skills are enhanced through outdoor play and physical activity.
In conclusion, choosing furniture for your preschool classroom can significantly impact the learning environment. From comfort to functionality and aesthetics to sustainability, furniture plays a crucial role in fostering engagement and promoting learning and development in young children.
At Xiha Montessori, we understand these needs and strive to provide furniture that meets these diverse requirements, ensuring preschoolers a positive and productive learning environment.
For more information, please visit Kindergarton Floor Supplier.