Your Thoughts, Please

[Loveyoustinkyface]

Oh and I liked the tv-bookcase you had with all the puzzles and books too!

[itlw8]

I like it better I do agree I like the bulliten board but not the papers... even if you make it make a collage maybe a paper plate with pictures of food cut out and glued to it. got paint? post a few painted pictures maybe one in red with the word red above it.

This does look more like a preschool space now.

let me say the stuff you have in the other pictures will work in your space but it was just not showing well in pictures. good luck on your open house.

[Sugar Magnolia]

The new pics are much better :-)

[melissa ann]

Okay. For the bulletin board, the papers that are on there came with the curriculum. The curriculum had them listed as bulletin board posters/flyers so parents can see what we will be working on for the month.

I do have flash cards and posters with the alphabets, numbers, colors and shapes. They are just not in the pictures.

I forgot to do the woodwork trim. I will work on that tomorrow.

I had the smaller tables for kids to do puzzles. I thought it would be easier than on the floor.

I have building blocks but maybe they don't show up in the pictures.

I will continue to work on it.

I had more stuff out when I did full time childcare, but didn't think I needed everything out for about 2 1/2 hr of preschool activity.

[countrymom]

you know what, the email acually helped you out, because if she didn't post to you then you would have never known what was wrong or why you weren't getting kids.

I have to agree with the email. I like the green color you had on the wall, it seems refreshing. I would repaint to freshen up the room and you need to fix the corners, I noticed them right away. The white curtain will look nice with the green walls (I love green)

first, get rid of the black hanging thing, thats an eye sore.
buy baskets from the dollar store, all my music stuff is in a basket
get rid of your orange label
walmart has small book cases for about 15 or 20 dollars, I would buy them. Buy several of them and place them along the walls so it looks uniformed.
can you find carpet squares so the kids can sit on, that would be neat too.

I just did a major overhaul but I did it little by little (ok, I had to strip it down to the studs) but if you put some money into it, your return will be great.

[nanglgrl]

The room looks a lot better! I agree with the poster who said to check your local free cycle group, you could probably get paint, shelving, etc. on there. I think some of the problems with the photos can be attributed to lighting, you said before that you have no overhead lights so unless the sun is shining in photos are going to look a little gloomy. Do you know if you have hard wood under the carpet? You might find it brightens the space and it would be much easier to clean up craft messes. If you do but it's in bad shape a solution might be to sand it a little, brush a colored wood stain or colored paint on and then wipe it with a rag or sponge, to finish it off cover it with polyurethane. As far as the little tikes table, I've found that scrub and bubbles does wonders on those things and makes them look like new. Your table with four chairs could easily be revamped with some spray paint and colorful shower curtains (easy to clean). First remove the cushions and spray the set a primary color and cut the shower curtains into squares a little larger than the seats and stapling them so they are covered, next I would tape off the table and spray the brown outside edge a primary color. You should be able to make that table look top notch for less than $20.00!

[Crystal]

I love your little mettal table! I would give it a fresh coat of paint, find a nice piec of fabric for a table cloth. If you have a play kitchen I would put it in the same space because that table is totally cute of tea parties, etc. I get that you are going for a preschool program, but the BEST preschool programs incorporate play (especially dramatic play) as part of the preschool experience.

I would move the chairs away from the activity tables you have. The children can stand to use the table activites, can move items to the floor, or if you line the chairs against a wall somewhere, they can move the chairs to where they need them.

The lamp....I would use staple gun to tack the cord up against the wall and the baseboard and then would find a canvas art print or the like to hang over the cord.

I would get rid of the labels....the kids can see what is available....they don't need a label! Try to get a bunch of wicker baskets (search free listings on CL) to put materials in. In fact, you can find many things on CL for free that can be used in your space if you get creative.

If you have any throw rugs laying around the house I would place them around the room....maybe add a basket of books by one, as well as pillow. A basket of puzzles or small blocks by another, etc.

Go outside and collect natural materials for your science area....FREE......driftwood, pine cones, rocks/stones, etc. If you have some tree stumps (orcan find some free on CL) you can use them as small tables and stools in your science space.

I would use one of those shelves for nothing but freely accessible writing materials. Recycle containers (for free) to use for pens/pencils/crayons/markers/paper, etc.

I will try to come up with mor eideas for you

[Country Kids]

Is this also in your livingroom? I thought in one of the pictures I saw a couch but maybe not.

If it is you might have a hard time with trying to do a preschool only program. Most people (I found this when I did it) are looking for a dedicated space for that. They want a place a child can do "school" more. With childcare they aren't as picky if its in a livingroom and there are toys down.

[melissa ann]

The area that I have is separate from my living area. Our house is set up into 3 apts. We live in 1/2 the house and my childcare/preschool space is in the 1st floor apt. There is a couch there because we have an extra couch (actually a sofabed) and have no where else to go with it.