The ideal early childhood classroom offers the right amount of space and furnishings to go along with the right tools and supplies. Thoughtful and purposeful design come together to make the best examples of early childhood classrooms that fit the students and make the most out of the space available.
Creating the ideal early childhood classroom isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of scenario, but there are some specific things to keep in mind while organizing and filling a space that is geared towards the education of early learners.
Components of an Effective Early Childhood Classroom
Of course every classroom is different, and every educator has their own strengths and passions, but there are some key features that play an important role in every childhood classroom.
Early Childhood Furniture 
Furniture in an early childhood classroom should suit the needs of the young learners that will be using it. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is this furniture the right size?
- Are the pieces of furniture placed in logical ways?
- Are there multiple options to fit different activities and needs?
Choosing the right furniture for an early childhood classroom means considering what students will be able to use without it taking away from their learning experiences. Does the furniture meet their basic needs so that their creativity and energy can be used to learn new things and challenge themselves?
Early Childhood Technology
Technological advances in the world of education mean that early childhood classrooms have the potential to add technology to the daily learning opportunities. Young minds are incredibly flexible and soak up new concepts like a sponge. Ask yourself the following questions about what technology your early childhood classroom has to offer:
- How can I ensure that students are introduced to the benefits of technology without letting it overwhelm other learning opportunities and challenges?
- Am I promoting and supporting students learning development when I incorporate new technological resources?
- Is the incorporation of technology helping me to improve my teaching skills and better meet the needs of individual students?
Technology is about so much more than learning how to use a computer or interactive whiteboard. For early childhood educators, it’s a versatile way to use high-tech devices to enhance the learning experience. For example: the combination of playing a game on a tablet with a story time session that reinforces the same ideas could be an incredibly valuable way to reinforce important concepts.
Early Childhood Safety
When designing an early childhood classroom, safety is of utmost importance. Determining the space’s safety comes down to both physical and emotional well-being. While it’s quite obvious that dangerous objects should be kept away from young learners, here are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself when choosing the furniture and supplies for your classroom:
- Is there enough space for students to safely use each of the learning centers in the room?
- Is the furniture in the room designed for early childhood learners, and of good quality?
- Are the supplies and tools organized to be easy to reach and put away?
- Do students feel comfortable and safe in the environment and culture of the space I have created?
Inclusion in the Early Childhood Classroom
On top of the considerations that must be made for each child’s safety and learning development, there are aspects to consider when it comes to meeting the needs of all the students in the room. Children with special needs should have the same feelings of comfort and safety when they enter the early childhood classroom. Read one of the blog posts below to learn more about inclusion in the early childhood classroom:
- Inclusion & Social Emotional Learning for Students with Special Needs
- Incorporating Inclusion into the Early Childhood Classroom
- Promoting Creative Inclusive Practices in Schools
KidSpaces Early Childhood Classroom All-In-One
The good news, after considering all these different ways that an early childhood classroom must be specialized to suit the needs of young learners, is that there are solutions available that guarantee quality and purposeful design. The KidSpaces Complete Classroom Packages offer all of the products for a developmentally appropriate and high-quality early childhood classroom. The KidSpaces packages feature learning materials and furniture chosen to align with best practice and create a safe, engaging environment to support quality early education experiences for today’s young learners.
