| Daycare supplies and equipment generally include toys, | | | | easy and safe to reach for your students. |
| books, and other items, but these are only part of | | | | 5. Media storage - A few decades ago, the only |
| what you need to really create an organized learning | | | | media storage you would need in your classroom is a |
| environment for your students. Below is a list of seven | | | | place for books and maybe a place to listen to |
| "must haves" you need for your classroom. | | | | records or cassettes. Today, you might have a sizable |
| 1. Art storage for kids - Part of the daycare supplies | | | | arsenal of media at your disposal, including CD's and |
| and equipment you need to get ready for your | | | | DVD's. That means you need a place to store all of |
| students are art supplies because children love to be | | | | those items. Remember if you want your students to |
| creative and to make art. However, keeping track of | | | | be able to select the items or to return them when |
| all those supplies and the children you're watching can | | | | they are finished, you'll want to choose media storage |
| be a nightmare. You need to have some type of | | | | furniture that is closer to the ground and is visually |
| storage unit that will keep all of these supplies | | | | appealing. |
| organized and accessible to your students. | | | | 6. Cubbie storage - Part of the daycare supplies and |
| 2. Art easels - Setting up art stations where everything | | | | equipment you need should include a way of your |
| students need to start creating is available is a nice | | | | students to safely store their own items. Cubbie |
| way of letting the students have a little more | | | | storage is a good way to do this because each child |
| independence and self-expression. Plus, if you use art | | | | can have their own pre-assigned spot and because |
| easels with underneath storage you'll also have art | | | | the cubbies make it easy to keep their items |
| storage for kids. | | | | organized. Having the items stored far away from the |
| 3. Appropriately sized tables and chairs - Your | | | | actual classroom learning environment is a good idea |
| daycare supplies and equipment may not normally | | | | so students won't be easily distracted. |
| include classroom furniture, but it's worth considering. | | | | 7. Toy storage - Toys, especially building blocks and |
| While it may be easier to use desks and other items | | | | similar "loose" toys, can be hard to keep organized. |
| designed for older students, you should always try to | | | | However, there are options available to make it easier. |
| provide your students with tables and chairs they can | | | | Consider using clear tote boxes to keep together |
| work at comfortably. | | | | certain types of toys, such as blocks, doll clothes, |
| 4. Safe steps or stools - One problem in many | | | | plastic food, etc. Your students will be able to easily |
| daycares and elementary classrooms is that existing | | | | see what's inside each box and can pick the one he or |
| items may not be easily accessible by your students. | | | | she wants to play with. When finished, they can put |
| For example, drinking fountains are sometimes too high | | | | everything neatly back in the box for the next students |
| off the ground to be useful to students. Lowering the | | | | to enjoy. When you're trying to get together all of the |
| fountains is not a cost effective option, but you could | | | | daycare supplies and equipment you need, don't forget |
| buy special child-friendly stools or steps to make the | | | | the importance of organization in your classroom |
| fountains - or other taller parts of your classroom - | | | | environment. |