Creating a construction play space

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The construction center, is often referred as the "block area"-It's a place for children to engineer new creations! In this area children are learning to manipulate new objects, and they are learning new math concepts such as size (Big & small), length, patterns and color. This learning space allows them to use their creativity to duplicate the world around them, it also provides them them social opportunities to cooperate and work together with their peers.

Children go through many stages of play in this area. Don't mistake a child who is learning the relationship between cause and effect (knocking over blocks) as a behavioral problem. Instead provide them with opportunities to make these discoveries in a safe environment, with appropriate materials.

Block area and loose part play at Tykes n Tots Daycare

You will observe young children learn many new skills in this space. You may notice a young child just starting out by carrying blocks. They will eventually start piling blocks, and move on to learning how to connect them to make simple 1-2 block structures, and roads. As they learn to manipulate the items in this space you may notice them creating more elaborate engineering designs such as bridges, and towers. Eventually you may notice them incorporating other items into their designs to re-create the world around them, which results in them  creating elaborate structures.

Sheena W,'s block play area at Building Blocks Family childcare includes a variety of building materials such as cardboard blocks, soft blocks, people, cars, and farm animals. She swaps the materials based on their interests. 

Selecting a place for building 

Cassandra S. of Mud Pies and Butterflies has this great low surface perfect for building in her space. 

Cathy M. of Happy Hands Early Learning Academy built this solid surface building area using a piece of 4'x4' particle board that she covered with self adhesive tile. It provides a sturdy building area in her carpeted space. 

A living room floor makes a great construction area! If you are short on space consider a mobile tray that you can slide under your sofa (such as the one made bySmart Girls DIY ). You can equip it with a variety of blocks, and small world play items (Play people, animals, items to create landscapes, etc).

This is an important space for learning, and one that needs some room to spread out. This area is buzzing with action, so it's best to place it in an area that is away from quiet play (such as the reading area).  A flat building surface is ideal. If you don't have a flat surface consider adding a low building surface to the space, or add a board to the space that will provide a sturdier base for building.

Storing materials 

A low shelf is a great way to house the materials for this area. Small bins, or baskets can be used to hold different types of building materials. Blocks can be set on top of open shelving to allow children to visualize their materials and determine which items they want to select for their structures.

This construction space above belongs to community member Liza D.

If you don't have a separate daycare space, invest in furniture that will serve as toy storage in your shared space. 

The IKEA TROFAST storage units featured in community member Susan L.'s space provide a sturdy surface with room to store building items above and  below.

Accessories

In addition to wooden unit blocks, you can add a variety of building, transportation and small world play items to this space (See some of my favorites here).

Heidi S. of Heidi Slaters Home Childcare has included a variety of accessories in her building area. 

You can add a variety of items to create landscapes, and habitats as well. This is a great space to fill with recycled items, as well as loose parts for play. ​

Sheena W. provided the children atBuilding Blocks Family Childcare a variety of items to create their own snake aquarium. 

Items to add to your space

When it comes to creating learning spaces it can be challenging to find items that can be added to the space for differing ages and abilities. Here are some suggested items to add to your construction space by age:

Download a free copy of this checklist

Add print rich materials to your space

Provide materials for children to create their own signs, draw their building plans, and label their constructions. Add books to the construction space about building, or books that show photos of buildings. You can also hang posters, or photos from architectural calendars (*Money saving tip-you can often find these at the Dollar Store). You can also laminate photos of buildings (Check garage sales, and your thrift store for books). Grab my Let's build posters here.

Let's Build Poster Pack from Daycare Spaces and Ideas that club member Rachel M, adapted into building mats! 

Use Enriching vocabulary

Discuss the materials the Children are using:
"I see you have blocks in your wagon", "I see you have added animals to your building"
Discuss the Structures they are building:
"That tower you are building is so tall", "I see you can fit several cars inside the tunnel you made", "That bridge looks strong"
Discuss building concepts:
"Those blocks just fell down", "I see you moved that block", "I see you stacked 3 blue blocks"

Download a free sample of my learning center signs to use in your space!

Show off their accomplishments

Add photos of the children's creations to the space. You can attach them to the wall, or turn them into a photo album or flip book. Another option is purchasing a digital photo frame that displays a slideshow of their constructions.

More Construction Spaces from our Community

Do you have a reading space photo to share? Submit your photo here

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1 year Gift Membership

$95.00

A Gift Membership makes a great gift for Childcare Providers, Preschool Teachers, or Parent Providing Preschool at home!

Your recipient will receive free access to ALL of our preschool printable activities and games for 1-year. This includes new printable product releases and previously released printable activities!

After you complete this purchase you will be emailed a .pdf containing your printable gift membership certificate. This download also contains instructions your recipient will need to redeem their certificate.

*Important: You will also need to provide your recipient your order# (which can be found on your confirmation email) in order for them to complete their redemption.

A 1-Year Printables Club Membership is perfect for childcare Providers, Preschool Teachers, or Parents Providing Preschool at home!

Your recipient will receive complete access to ALL of our preschool printable activities and games inside our activity library for 1-year. This includes all printable activities found in our store and any new printable products we release while you are a member.

Terms of use

During their active billing term, members will have access to our on-line member area where they can access all of the digital product files for the printable products created by Melissa Solomon-owner of Pre-K Printable Fun. This includes access to existing products, and new products.

As a member you agree to the following terms:

Licensing:

• Memberships are for a Single user and Single Classroom only. Please contact me for discount pricing if you are purchasing for multiple teachers/classrooms at your site.

Permitted Uses:

• All items in the Member area are for Personal/Non-Commercial use.
• You are allowed to make copies for yourself, and copies for your own classroom (students), but please do not make copies for others. 
• You agree not to sell, distribute, duplicate, publish, modify, create derivative works, or give any of our resources to anyone else.
• You agree not share: your log in information, or any of the information found inside the member area, including but not limited to: screenshots, products, images, Links, or files. This includes agreeing not to upload any of this information to the internet, social media or a shared drive that can be accessed by others.
• If it is determined you are abusing the member area you will be removed immediately regardless of your term and without compensation.
• Exception for COVID-19: Until otherwise notified I am temporarily updating my TOS to allow you to securely share my resources with your impacted students.Please help protect my work, by only sending my files to your clients via email only (please do not upload them to a shared drive, or on social media).

Billing Terms:

• Annual Billing: a 1-Year Membership is active for 365 Days, and a 2-Year Membership is active for 730 days. You are not permitted to log-in after your membership expires. Subscription memberships automatically renew.

Upon cancellation, termination, or expiration of your membership:

• You are no longer permitted to log-in to the membership area.
• You may continue to use any product files you have downloaded, and use any physically assembled activities according to my above terms, and permitted uses.
• You will not have access to product updates.
• In the event, you no longer need your physically assembled activities (you are closing your business, no longer providing Pre-K at home, retiring from your classroom), existing pre-made activities may be donated one-time. Products may not be sold, and files may not be shared.

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1 Year Pre-K Printables Club Membership

$97.00

A 1-Year Printables Club Membership is perfect for childcare Providers, Preschool Teachers, or Parents Providing Preschool at home!

You will receive complete access to ALL of our preschool printable activities and games inside our activity library for 1-year. This includes all printable activities found in our store and any new printable products we release while you are a member.

After your order is processed, you will be sent a link to set up your own password, so that you can access our activity library right on our site. As a member, you can log in and print any of our activities for for no additional charge. Print them whenever and as often as you need them.

Terms of use

During their active billing term, members will have access to our on-line member area where they can access all of the digital product files for the printable products created by Melissa Solomon-owner of Pre-K Printable Fun. This includes access to existing products, and new products.

As a member you agree to the following terms:

Licensing:

• Memberships are for a Single user and Single Classroom only. Please contact me for discount pricing if you are purchasing for multiple teachers/classrooms at your site.

Permitted Uses:

• All items in the Member area are for Personal/Non-Commercial use.
• You are allowed to make copies for yourself, and copies for your own classroom (students), but please do not make copies for others. 
• You agree not to sell, distribute, duplicate, publish, modify, create derivative works, or give any of our resources to anyone else.
• You agree not share: your log in information, or any of the information found inside the member area, including but not limited to: screenshots, products, images, Links, or files. This includes agreeing not to upload any of this information to the internet, social media or a shared drive that can be accessed by others.
• If it is determined you are abusing the member area you will be removed immediately regardless of your term and without compensation.
• Exception for COVID-19: Until otherwise notified I am temporarily updating my TOS to allow you to securely share my resources with your impacted students.Please help protect my work, by only sending my files to your clients via email only (please do not upload them to a shared drive, or on social media).

Billing Terms:

• Annual Billing: a 1-Year Membership is active for 365 Days, and a 2-Year Membership is active for 730 days. You are not permitted to log-in after your membership expires. Subscription memberships automatically renew.

Upon cancellation, termination, or expiration of your membership:

• You are no longer permitted to log-in to the membership area.
• You may continue to use any product files you have downloaded, and use any physically assembled activities according to my above terms, and permitted uses.
• You will not have access to product updates.
• In the event, you no longer need your physically assembled activities (you are closing your business, no longer providing Pre-K at home, retiring from your classroom), existing pre-made activities may be donated one-time. Products may not be sold, and files may not be shared.

Shop

2-Year Pre-K Printables Club Membership

$147.00

A 2-Year Printables Club Membership is perfect for childcare Providers, Preschool Teachers, or Parents Providing Preschool at home!

You will receive complete access to ALL of our preschool printable activities and games inside our activity library for 2-years. This includes all printable activities found in our store and any new printable products we release while you are a member.

After your order is processed, you will be sent a link to set up your own password, so that you can access our activity library right on our site. As a member, you can log in and print any of our activities for for no additional charge. Print them whenever and as often as you need them.

Terms of use

During their active billing term, members will have access to our on-line member area where they can access all of the digital product files for the printable products created by Melissa Solomon-owner of Pre-K Printable Fun. This includes access to existing products, and new products.

As a member you agree to the following terms:

Licensing:

• Memberships are for a Single user and Single Classroom only. Please contact me for discount pricing if you are purchasing for multiple teachers/classrooms at your site.

Permitted Uses:

• All items in the Member area are for Personal/Non-Commercial use.
• You are allowed to make copies for yourself, and copies for your own classroom (students), but please do not make copies for others. 
• You agree not to sell, distribute, duplicate, publish, modify, create derivative works, or give any of our resources to anyone else.
• You agree not share: your log in information, or any of the information found inside the member area, including but not limited to: screenshots, products, images, Links, or files. This includes agreeing not to upload any of this information to the internet, social media or a shared drive that can be accessed by others.
• If it is determined you are abusing the member area you will be removed immediately regardless of your term and without compensation.
• Exception for COVID-19: Until otherwise notified I am temporarily updating my TOS to allow you to securely share my resources with your impacted students.Please help protect my work, by only sending my files to your clients via email only (please do not upload them to a shared drive, or on social media).

Billing Terms:

• Annual Billing: a 1-Year Membership is active for 365 Days, and a 2-Year Membership is active for 730 days. You are not permitted to log-in after your membership expires. Subscription memberships automatically renew.

Upon cancellation, termination, or expiration of your membership:

• You are no longer permitted to log-in to the membership area.
• You may continue to use any product files you have downloaded, and use any physically assembled activities according to my above terms, and permitted uses.
• You will not have access to product updates.
• In the event, you no longer need your physically assembled activities (you are closing your business, no longer providing Pre-K at home, retiring from your classroom), existing pre-made activities may be donated one-time. Products may not be sold, and files may not be shared.
• 
  

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Let's Build Poster Pack

$3.00

Newly Updated! Add these posters to your construction space to inspire the children in your care. Read more about creating a construction space here.

This 18-page set includes:

• Let’s Build a Bridge pgs. 2-5
•  Let’s Build a Bridge Poster
•  Let’s Build a Bridge Mat
•  Bridge Vocabulary Cards
• Let’s Build a Road pgs. 5-7
•  Let’s Build a Road Poster
•  Let’s Build a Road Mat
•  Road Vocabulary Cards
• Let’s Build a Tower pgs. 8-10
•  Let’s Build a Tower Poster
•  Let’s Build a Tower Mat
•  Tower Vocabulary Cards
• Let’s Build a House pgs. 11-13
•  Let’s Build a House Poster
•  Let’s Build a House Mat
•  House Vocabulary Cards
• Let’s Build a Castle pgs. 14-16
•  Let’s Build a Castle Poster
•  Let’s Build a Castle Mat
•  Castle Vocabulary Cards
• TOS & Graphics credit pgs. 17-18

*Want access to all of the Pre-K Printable Fun Printable activities at your fingertips? Join the Pre-K Printables club today!

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Let's Build landmarks around the world Poster Set

$3.00

This resource is available FREE to Pre-K Printable Club Members inside the the Member Download Area.


This 17-page digital product includes 2-levels of building mats for the following 7 landmarks:
Parthenon Mats
Eiffel Tower Mats
Stonehenge Mats
Taj Mahal Mats
Big Ben Mats
Sydney Opera House Mats
Pisa Tower Mats 


Easy to assemble-simply print and laminate! Pair with blocks for use as small group learning centers, or place them in your block center.


This set also includes TOS, Graphics Credit and Directions.

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