Chantal 0:02
If you're an OG follower, then you might remember our annual best classroom themes contest. They were a blast to host, I would ask everyone, what were the top best trending classroom themes. And we would do a bracket competition and choose a winner based on the audience votes every summer, I would then create an entire classroom decor set for that theme, add it to my Teachers Pay teacher's shop, and give one entire set away on Instagram. It was so much fun. And my followers loved being able to add their input and vote every week. What I'm getting at is that when we're thinking about setting up our classroom for back to school, sometimes we get so caught up in a theme or buying a ton of stuff for our classes that we may not actually need.
Chantal 1:34
Hey, hey, you're listening to Episode 39 of the preschool Made Easy podcast. I'm your host Chanty. And today, we're breaking down the essentials of your preschool classroom decor, aka, what you need some budget friendly options for you because we're all in the business of saving money, and some common mistakes to avoid. I've had the honor of helping over 400 families get started with preschool with their ultimate goal in mind to get them ready for kindergarten. They've all used my Kinder readiness checklist. So grab the link in the show notes to get your hands on our free, easy to use checklist that tells you everything your littles need to know before starting kindergarten today. All right, let's get to it.
Chantal 2:21
I'll be the first one hyping you up to go all out with your class and make it awesome, beautiful, fill it with all the top organizational bins and systems and whatnot. But I'm also the first one telling you, Hey, we got to simplify this. Okay, it's a bit too much.
Chantal 2:41
We've got to remember that the needs of a preschool classroom are not the same as a kinder one or an upper elementary classroom. By far, we need functional, accessible and practical child sized furniture like tables, chairs and shelves that are at an appropriate height, ideally with rounded corners. We also need comfortable areas like the reading nook or library center that can house soft seating options, like beanbags or floor cushions. Safety is always our number one priority. So making sure that those edges and working spaces and flooring are safe is a must grab some rugs or mats and use as much soft natural light as possible in your class.
Chantal 3:31
When it comes to your centers, you'll need to designate a space for each one in your class like the art, dramatic play, science, construction, library, and even literacy or math centers. Each area will need their own respective supplies. But don't overcrowd them. Each item will need a home where your littles can easily find and play with them, and then store them during cleanup for those addicting organizational tools, because I know they're addicting. Just grab a few clear bins and containers, label everything and then use cubbies if you have them to store things. You should also have a visual schedule posted somewhere at child's level to help them understand the structure of the day and what is expected or what comes next.
Chantal 4:24
As far as decor goes, always keep in mind that it needs to be developmentally appropriate. For example, use colorful, simple pictures at eye level for your preschoolers that serves as visual stimuli, but doesn't cause them to get anxious because it's too bright or has way too many things happening all at once. Add interactive boards or wall activities that encourage them to go and touch and play with them. These things could be like a touch wall with different textures or sounds or color posters. I will say this And if you've ever attended any one of my workshops, I know you've heard me say this. I'm all for getting the educational posters. But let's be realistic. Okay? Do we really need all the motivational ones like, soar to the moon or reach for the mountain tops? I get it. They're super cute, and they may even go with your theme. The thing is, they take up space and serve no purpose at all, other than they are motivational. But guess what? Can your kids even read them? Most likely not. So how about we just stick to the educational ones for now. And if you must, then you can have the others posted in places like the restroom or the hallways where they can be more useful. Sound good? Cool.
Chantal 5:48
Let's talk about some budget friendly options for you and how you can decorate your class with simple things you may already have. You can use materials from your own home that you may not often use like serving spoons and cups, rugs and lamps, art supplies, and so many others use recycled materials for arts and crafts or even as storage options. You can also create your own posters, charts and decorations with free online resources and templates for printables. Canva and Microsoft PowerPoint are truly the best options for this right now.
Chantal 6:26
You can head over to some dollar stores or thrift shops to find affordable and gently used items that would be perfect for your classroom. Or just ask for some donations from your classroom parents, some local businesses, or your friends and family on Facebook or Instagram. Another great resource is Facebook marketplace, or any local online shop that buys, sells, or trades items.
Chantal 6:53
Now, we all know it's much easier to just go and grab all the things you see. And then try to piece them together and your class when you're ready, and you're there and you're ready to set up, then to strategically purchase things and put each part of your class together wisely. This can lead to some mistakes so and you definitely want to avoid these like creating an overstimulated environment. This looks like cluttered walls with way too many posters or decorations. Less is more remember that. Try and keep a balance between visual stimulation and calm quiet areas with whitespace. All of us need that.
Chantal 7:36
Don't ignore the safety concerns and ensure that all of your decor and furniture are safe, non toxic, and don't pose a threat to the health and well being of everyone in the room. Avoid small swallowable items in your centers, and things with sharp edges. Also, this is a big one. Don't upset the fire department, my friend. I know it's tedious having to take things down because you already hung them up on the ceiling. But just trust me, their job is extremely important. And if they tell you to do something or not, just do it or don't. your safety and your kids safety is in their hands.
Chantal 8:17
Create easy to move in spaces that can change with the curriculum or any of your children's needs. Be flexible and avoid permanent setups that may not work after some time or need modifications later on. And then they can't be rearranged. Try to consider your students input. Take into account their preferences and their interests when decorating your room. Involve them in the process and make them feel included and respected. You know, like their opinion matters. Observe what they're drawn to and add those seemingly small things into your decor. Trust me, they will notice and it'll make all the difference in the world to them.
Chantal 9:02
Lastly, don't neglect your storage. under estimating the importance of storage or just postponing it can lead to some seriously disorganized classroom spaces. Okay, this brings chaos, something you definitely don't want in your class, plan for easily accessible storage that will help maintain order and function and help encourage your little ones to be independent.
Chantal 9:28
All right, let's recap. In today's episode, we talked about the essentials of your preschool classroom decor aka what you need. We also talked about some budget friendly options to help you save money. And we talked about some common mistakes to avoid when setting up your class.
Chantal 9:46
Listen, classroom decor isn't just about the aesthetics, or making your room cute with things you like. It's about helping your children develop in optimal ways, instilling flexibility, and helping them become independent and succeed in any environment. This year, let's make your preschool classroom a hit with your littles by showing them that they matter.
Chantal:And hey, if you've got other teacher friends that could really use our help, share this podcast with them and help us grow our community. It takes a village to teach her babies. So let's do this together.