Furnishings and Equipment

The size of your center, the type of program you offer, your staff, and your budget will all affect your purchasing decisions for furniture, equipment, and supplies. There are basic furnishings and equipment you'll need to help provide a safe and comfortable learning environment for children. (Note: These lists do not include any special equipment needed for children with special needs.)

Furnishings for your center should include:

Tables that seat four to six children; chairs, at least one per child; comfortable chairs, couch, and/or carpeted area for reading and quiet area; storage units (shelving) with children's materials on their level, plus adult storage not accessible to children; easels; rugs and/or mats; cubby storage units; book display stand; supply storage units (for paints, glue, art supplies, etc., not in use -- with doors that cannot be opened by children); clock; wastebaskets; window shades; sand/water table

Art -- Paint containers (spill-proof); paint (non-toxic, washable); paint brushes in assorted sizes; paper (assorted sizes of colored construction, newsprint, and plain white); aprons or smocks; markers; blunt nose scissors; glue and/or glue sticks; glitter; colored chalk; crayons; stamps and ink pads; recycled materials; natural materials from outside; hole punches; string; staplers

Block Corner -- Wooden unit blocks in varied sizes; cardboard brick blocks; table top blocks; wooden trucks and cars; sturdy model animals and people to extend creativity; wooden train sets (optional)

Dramatic Play -- Housekeeping/kitchen units; safety mirror; dress-up clothes and costumes; play foods (multicultural, too!); play kitchen utensils, dishes and cookware; puppets; puppet theatre; dolls (various sizes and multi-ethnic); doll high chair, cradle or furniture; plastic animals (farm, jungle, dinosaurs); equipment to expand dramatic play beyond home living (e.g., play money and cash register, office equipment, dress-up clothing)

Manipulatives -- Washable infant toys (have several of each type); connecting blocks (e.g., Duplos); pegs and pegboards; geo boards; lacing cards; puzzles; shape sorters; beads and string; linking toys (snap-together cubes, gears)

Meal Areas -- Stove; sink; dishes and cups (plastic for children); eating utensils for children; serving utensils; microwave oven; pots and pans; kitchen utensils; refrigerator with freezer; storage cupboards; cleaning equipment and supplies; dishwasher and Sterilizer; food thermometer; high chairs for infants

Music -- Instruments (drums, tambourines, bells, maracas, cymbals, fingerbells, xylophone, etc.); rainsticks; tape, record or CD player; cassettes, records, or CDs; scarves and flags for movement and music

Nap Areas -- Cribs (for infants); mats or cots (for toddlers and older); mat sheets (washed daily); extra sheets and blankets; stuffed animals (washed frequently)

Playground -- Outdoor climbing structures (with proper surfacing); swing sets (you need plenty of room for these!); riding toys such as tricycles, scooters, play cars, etc.; wagons; wheelbarrows; balls (many sizes); sandbox with lid; sand toys; see saw; basketball hoop (free-standing)

Reading and Literature -- Alphabet blocks, puzzles, magnets, stamps, cookie cutters, etc.; games (bingo, lotto, sorting cards); sequencing puzzles; felt boards with play scenes; books (picture books, board books for infants, big books); audio tapes and cassette player; posters of favorite book characters

Science -- Nature objects (shells, leaves, rocks, etc.); magnifying lenses; plant growing materials; magnets and magnetic objects; charts (weather, temperature, etc.); binoculars; gardening materials; books and posters about science; discovery table or light table; live animals (e.g., fish, ant farms, small mammals, as allergies allow), but no turtles (due to toxic salmonella germs)

Sensory -- Play-doh (you can make your own); modeling clay; shaving cream; "pudding painting" bubbles; sand and water toys (buckets, shovels, funnels, measuring cups, water wheel, bathing dolls, spray bottles, etc.)

Toileting Areas -- Washbasins and toilets (at children's level); toilet paper; paper towels; toilet seat inserts (if desired); small step stool (if needed); liquid soap in dispensers; diaper changing table or surface; wipes; disposable rubber gloves; spray bottle of disinfectant to use on surface; diapers; diaper pail with lid