How to Stock a Preschool Manipulative Center
Stock a preschool age manipulative area with different toys and activities to keep kids busy. The National Network for Childcare advises that play is important to preschoolers, because that is how children learn. Manipulative play is extremely important because it allows children to use their hands, muscles and eyes. In addition, manipulative play helps children develop hand-eye coordination and skills for development. Help preschoolers learn about the world around them by setting up an area specifically for manipulative play.
Things You'll Need
- Table
- Chairs
- Rugs
- Blocks
- Puzzles
- Plastic containers
- Shelving
- Crafting supplies (beads, stringing cards)
- Art supplies (paper, markers)
- Plastic floor cover
- Sand
- Clay
- Dough
- Train table
Instructions
Set up an area where children have plenty of space to play. The area should include an open floor area and a table to sit down and play. The table should be the appropriate height for preschoolers. Hard floor areas, such as tile and wood, will need to have mats or rugs for children to sit on during play. Line the exterior of the area with shelving to hold toys. Shelving should be low to the ground for children to gain access, and anchored to the wall to prevent toppling over if the child attempts to climb the shelf. Purchase manipulative toys to fill the space, such as construction-based items. Basic building blocks and interlocking blocks are toys that are suitable for any age. Purchase a container to store the blocks for easy access. Choose large, wooden puzzles, with up to six pieces, for children up to 3 years old. Older children, up to age six, should have access to larger, interlocking puzzles in various sizes. Store puzzles in a large, plastic container to prevent pieces from slipping out and getting lost. Set up a small shelf next to the table and stock containers or drawers with crafting supplies. These supplies are appropriate for children older than three and who are supervised while playing. Craft supplies can include beads, stringing cards and shoelaces for stringing. These items help children use their hand-eye coordination. Place art materials next to the crafting supplies for children to create pictures. Give children a variety of materials such as pens, pencils, markers and chalk to draw on paper or chalkboard. Stencils and coloring books are also good to include with drawing materials. Lay a plastic covering on the floor and designate a messy area. This area can include sand, water, dough and clay to play with away from the other toys. Place a train table in the corner of the area for children to play with the different trains, rearrange tracks and learn how to connect and disconnect different engines and train-cars. Store trains and track under the train table in boxes or bins for easy access.
