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Soft Spots in Your Classrooms
August 28, 2006
Once when her brothers were fighting over who got more spaghetti for dinner, her mother said, ‘You don’t look at another person’s plate to see if they have more than you. You look to see if they have enough.
-Jodi Picoult, from A Spark of Light
-Jodi Picoult, from A Spark of Light
In our classroom we have tried to make many soft spots where the children (and teachers) can sit comfortably and relax with a book or a game.
- We have even created a whole area in our classroom called the “Soft Spot.” The children brainstormed and voted on the name of the area. The “Soft Spot” contains a couch (adult-sized love seat), a full-sized rocking chair, a small table with child-sized chairs, books, games, puppets, and many pillows.
- We also have a “Rest Stop” in our room for two children. There is also a love seat and books in this area.
- Throughout the room we have pillows for the children to relax with; we even have a pillow bed which is a large wooden framed box with pillows on the floor.
Soft spots are wonderful places to read with children or simply to have a conversation. Children who are in group care for many hours of the day need some down time. This is not always easy to come by in a group setting, so any way the environment can be manipulated to include quieter places is a tremendous benefit to young children.
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Comments (5)
Displaying All 5 CommentsUpper Canada Child Care
Markham, ON, United States
Have tried incorporating loveseat and chair in our toddler room. Public Health want the cushions on the sofa to be washed weekly. How long do they actually think they will last under these circumstances. (We prewashed the upholstery fabric and made duplicate cushions to handle spills but still feel this is going to be a tough one to control).
We bought a nice area rug. On day one, child got sick on it. Public Health directed a teacher to pour bleach on it. Needless to say, it destroyed the "home like "appearance of the rug. Would products like Dettol disinfect with out removing colour from the fabric? If anyone has suggestion to share, we would appreciate them.
Bloomington, IN, United States
Being a "Reggio" advocate focusing on esthetics, I love this idea and try to encourage teachers to incorporate this into the classrooms.
One hang up for us is the state regs.--everythings has to be vinyl type stuff that can be wiped off. We try to counter this by washing pillows everyday--or at least the covers.
We also have had a problem with head lice in one room off and on. The room had many pillows and administration was wondering if that prompted the return of head lice even though we washed everything in hot bleach water and bagged the things that couldn't be washed for a month.
Any comments to these problems in relationg to "soft spots"?
Linda Zager :-)
PS to Eve-- The nest/perch idea sounds interesting--I'll have to read that book.
PS to Xai, Xai--I think this can be applied to any culture, to any size group or room. In large areas, parts can be divided to provide the "soft spot" areas.
Ikh Juulchin
Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, United States
Hello Sir/Madam
I'm very pleased your organization.
If it is possible I would like to cooperate with you. I love children too mach, so today I volenteer work as a English teacher in the kindergarden.
I need books, toys for kids and book for me about how to teach English lanquage, how can I create best and comfortable environmet for them. I need more advise from your organization.
I hope you help and give such good advises.
Best regards Togtuur
PARENTS FORUM
United States
The theme of 'soft spots' in child care setting recalls for me a book I read recently: House Thinking which described two different aspects of space: nest and perch, both important in a home, and of course, also in day care or school environment. The soft spots are in the 'nest' category. I enjoy reading the exchange and confess that while I don't take the time to read it every day, I am always happy when I do. Eve Sullivan, PARENTS FORUM http://www.parentsforum.org
save the children
Xai-Xai, Gaza, United States
I find the idea wonderful.
I wonder how much this can be aplicable to african reality where there is no classroom and the size of class is over 50 pupils.
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