Scarborough Children's Academy

EDUCATION STATIONS are introduced in the Toddler classroom. While observing different Toddler classrooms over our combined 74 years of experience, we noticed the “typical” set up lacked at providing many things needed for the children to interact and play in a calm, peaceful, positive manner. At times they seemed over-stimulated with toys, dumping them all together and then losing interest. Some children that were involved in play were interrupted by their peers or had an activity knocked over. How many times has a child become frustrated because they can not fit a toy on the shelf, the play area is too overstimulated or they need to put their toys away and are not finished playing? Unfortunately with a “typical” classroom set up, this can happen too often but with EDUCATION STATIONS it does not. 

EDUCATION STATIONS are the centers in a classroom but are much more developmentally appropriate for children to learn and grow. They are specific areas(kitchen area, block area, book area, etc.) in the classroom. 

Scarborough Children’s Academy has developed, constructed and now uses EDUCATION STATIONS to provide and promote the following: 

• Set the stage for expectation and play: Toys are organized in open containers that are attached to the shelves at their level. Toys are specific to that area. 

• Creates clear boundaries for the specific area: the area is enclosed by half walls on 3 sides which will cut down on stimulation. 

• Enables teachers to see children at all times: The front area is completely open. 

• Cuts down on interruptions: Creates an area that has room to interact with others that want to play within the same activity but enclosed enough that the play is not interrupted by others not involved.

• Lighting becomes unique to the area: the lights can be dimmed if it is the quiet area or bright if it is the kitchen area. 

• Individual time: Children can play independently in stations if they need a break from a larger group.

• Children can leave and return to the area to continue the activity: If they built a tower of blocks and want to leave it built to add to it later. 

• The children can move throughout the classroom more freely as an individual than a group: Typically children play as a group and then will clean up the entire room as a group. The group then moves to the next activity. 

• Set up and decorate specifically to the area: if it is the block area then pictures of buildings and construction workers can be displayed. 

 

By using EDUCATION STATIONS for their classroom setup, children will learn: 

• Respect for others and property 

• Feeling of belonging 

• Positive relationships with others 

• Meaningful and appropriate play 

• Organization skills 

• Understanding their world around them 

• Understanding how things work 

• Communication skills 

• Understand and follow routines and rules 

• Understanding their personal needs 

• Responsibilities 

• Scarborough Children’s Academy is very excited to be using EDUCATION STATIONS in our classrooms. They will provide and promote what children need to learn, grow and be successful.