Developmental Centers
Kindergarten children learn through play! That is why it is so important to schedule time each day so students can participate in 'developmental' or 'free choice' centers.
Skills Learned Through Play!
Below are just a few of the skills that children are developing as they work in daily free choice centers.
Blocks
- spatial relationships
- cooperation
- balance
- cause and effect
- shape and size discrimination
- physical coordination
Art Tubs, Art Table, Easels
- fine motor skills
- creative expression
- colors, shapes, and size relationships
- exploring materials
- visual perception
Computers
- hand/eye coordination
- patterning
- sorting
- letter and numeral recognition
- concepts of print (left to right, tracking print, etc)
- following directions
Book Baskets/Listening Center
- reading for enjoyment
- letter recognition
- concepts of print (left to right, tracking print, etc)
- following directions
- comprehension
- vocabulary development
Math
- hand/eye coordination
- problem solving
- one to one correspondence
- counting
- patterning
- sorting
Housekeeping
- oral communication skills
- conflict resolution
- vocabulary development
- understand experiences through role playing
Puzzles and Games
hand/eye coordination
classification
visual perception
problem solving
social skills
Puppets
comprehension/retelling of stories
vocabulary development
problem solving
cooperation and social skills
Writing/ABC
fine motor skills
develop creativity and expression
communicate ideas
letter recognition
sequencing
letter/sound correspondence
Sand Table
exploration and discovery
cause and effect
measurement
problem solving
properties of matter
Free Choice Board
Our 'Free Choice' board was always posted for students to refer to. It was designed with clear visuals to show where students may participate.
Related Resources
Printable Skills Signs - signs to place in each center to show which skills students are working on, free from ABCteach
