First, The Child: A Prepared Environment
First, The Child Series
First, The Child is a blog series developed by FPPK to explore the school’s progressive approach to education. A prepared classroom is a model for order; it feels safe and inviting and encourages children to explore and want to learn more.
What Does a Prepared Environment Look Like?
Materials are organized, easy to access, and fun to use.
The environment is laid out for a child’s size, enabling children to feel like this is “their world.”
The materials engage all parts of a child’s senses, including texture, music, creative arts, and looking at nature.
Activities encourage open-ended play and discovery, including a fun outdoor environment for unstructured playtime.
How It Works
When an environment is designed with a child in mind, it looks different from our adult-sized world. It honors their size, showing how we put them at the center of our world. It also helps them realize that we honor them. We crouch to their level so we can see them eye to eye. This small but effective gesture goes a long way to honoring a child for who they are at this point of their life.
“A classroom set to the size of a child enables them to explore independently. It allows children to get things for themselves, empowering them to feel a sense of autonomy,” said Kristina Satchell, FPPK’s director.
“When we have a sense of organization in a classroom, we remind our students how they have the power to help us maintain order and structure. Taking out a material to play with is just as important as putting it away so another classmate can find it,” Satchell adds.
First Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten is a child-centered, family-driven school located on the beautiful grounds of the First Presbyterian Church in Englewood, New Jersey. Our nurturing program serves children 2 to kindergarten age and is non-sectarian, meaning we do not provide religious instruction.
We offer each child the care and compassion they need to become confident and engaged lifelong learners. It's where they start that helps them finish. Learn more about giving your child the right start at FPPK School.
