
The home center is either sparse and neglected with barely a plastic apple or is littered with mismatched plastic toys. Play clothes are often seen overflowing from a box, sometimes with a baby doll haphazardly tossed in. The kitchen cupboards are either bare or filled to the brim.
- Have you ever noticed the kitchen sink or actually the lack of a sink in the space where one should be?
- Doesn’t this make you wonder what kind of message this example of “homeliving” is imprinting on our children?
These types of classrooms are a thing of the past and must be put behind us as we nurture and offer the joy of learning to children in the 21st century. We need to be intentional and thoughtful as we design our environments. The rooms need to be curated with authentic materials.

P. L. A. C. E
The acronym PLACE uses the letters to give direction as you design the environment.
P is for paint.

- Direct engagement with live plants, animals, water, air, wood or stone enriches the interactions.
- Indirect engagement using imagery of plants, trees,animals and fish. Providing scenic pictures of water (the sea, a river or a lake, woods and fields. Choosing earth tone paint for the walls is a color that you might see outside the window.)

- Community: being part of something, the feeling of belonging.
- AWE: feeling of adventure or wonder created by novelty and the unknown.
- Refuge: place of sanctuary or security. Everyone needs a little down time to regroup. Incorporate a space to feel alone within the room.
- Empowerment: the feeling of power to make choices. Eliminate assigned seating, allow children to choose activities, move furniture, keep their block masterpiece up, hang their own art.

