Activity Center Ideas

Separate quiet and active learning areas will help protect children who are seated or playing on the floor. Keep toys on low shelves. Check them regularly for soil or damage. Remove broken toys. Provide two or more of popular toys.

MANIPULATIVE CENTER

•Little Lamb puppet •geometric pegs and pegboard •peekaboo board (board with flaps under which pictures are placed) •knob board (board with lift-out shapes) •toy people •toy vehicles •pop-up toys •stacking / nesting toys •fill / dump toys •blocks •wooden puzzles •cause-effect toys •shape / sorting toys •toy buildings •toy animals •puppets •pounding bench with plastic hammer

CREATIVE CENTER

•press-on stickers •self-inking stamp •paper •small easels •large crayons •large paintbrushes •shallow water containers •smocks •glue sticks •zip-top plastic bags •play dough •cookie cutters •craft sticks •shaped sponges •clip clothespins •bubble solution •colorful ribbons

NATURE CENTER

•toy animals •toy boats •water •sand •leaves •toy bugs •magnifying glass

BOOK CENTER

•board books •child’s Bible •mats •pillows •basket of books •child-safe CD player •flannel board and felt figures

LARGE-MUSCLE CENTER

•climbing equipment •crawl tunnel •riding toys •mat for falls •pushing toys •pulling toys •balls •rocking toys •toy tools: carpentry, lawn, cleaning

HOME-LIVING CENTER

•dolls (ethnic mix) •doll beds, clothes, blankets •toy food •toy dishes •table, chair •furniture: stove, sink •toy telephone •unbreakable mirror •dress-up items: hats, purses, shoes, shirts, neckties •Bible clothing •toy doctor’s kit

TRANSPORTATION CENTER

•community mat •large toy vehicles •large toy people that work with vehicles

MUSIC CENTER

•rhythm instruments •bells •cymbals •drums •recorders