Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/transforming-spaces-rethinking-the-possibilities-turning-design-challenges-into-opportunities/5013126/
From the location of the learning areas to the selection and presentation of learning materials, the design of the physical environment powerfully impacts all aspects of an early childhood program. You know when you are in a well-designed environment - you don't want to leave. Purposeful, engaging, and beautiful environments blend and balance the best elements of home, school, and community life together. When you enter the space, you feel like a special guest. The environment is warm and inviting. There are endless possibilities for inventing and creating. Here, lasting friendships are made. At the end of the day, you don't feel depleted; instead, you feel excited about what the next day will bring.Whether you're thinking about adding more private cozy areas, reducing the amount of furniture you have, or changing color schemes in your current space, transforming tired spaces into wonderful places is not an easy job. As former teachers, now design consultants, we help programs rethink the possibilities for how they can transform their existing spaces into more interesting, functional, and beautiful places where all learners can thrive. Since the majority of programs we work with reside in secondhand spaces, like church basements, retired schools, remodeled houses, and storefronts, ...