B2C2 Expansion Toolkit

Introduction

While planning for your new early learning and care centre, you will need a team of eager participants to decide on the products you will need to furnish it. 

Although this sounds like a fun activity, don’t be misled by the time it takes to make sound, economical and creative choices. This task requires careful planning to ensure safety and functionality for all age groups.

Start planning meetings eight to ten months before your opening. Initially, plan to meet weekly to allow time for insightful conversations and to gain momentum in the decision-making process. 

Develop a quality guideline document outlining considerations when purchasing furniture and materials to guide your decisions. This “go-to” resource will continuously remind your committee during the selection process. This document will also guide educators when setting up their new program rooms.

Create Guiding Principles

Based on the conversations, develop a set of guiding principles that identify what is essential for your program and what is valued as an organization.

Example Principle 1

Purchase good-quality equipment and materials to outlast less expensive items. Choose equipment and materials based on durability, wear and tear. Ensure they can withstand daily disinfection protocols. 

Examples include:

• High-quality solid or high-density plywood furniture
• Non-porous surfaces
• Scratch and stain-resistant
• Natural finishes
• Rounded corners
• Tables with telescopic legs 
• Shelving on casters
• Stackable chairs with good back support
• Tip-resistant chairs with good weight capacity
• Review return policies and warranties

Example Principle 2

Create a welcoming environment where staff, children and their families are represented and reflected.

Examples include:

• Photos of children and their families.
• Sensory-friendly materials.
• Ergonomic furniture for educators that promotes good posture.
• Gardens, plants, and animals add to the home-like feel of the early learning environment.
• Books that represent all people, families and cultures.

Example Principle 3

Provide opportunities to foster creative and artistic expression. 

Examples that support this vision include:

• Displaying children’s and educators’ art
• Wooden blocks in all shapes and sizes
• Authentic musical instruments (hand drums, tambourines, maracas, ukulele)
• Dress-up clothes in a range of sizes
• Child-sized puppet theatre and puppets
• Open-ended art supplies
• Nature-inspired materials 
• Chalkboards, clipboards and journals
• Sensory bins

Example Principle 4 

Create calm spaces for relaxation, support self-regulation and reflection.

Examples that support this vision include:

• Natural materials that add coziness to a child care environment.
• Environmentally friendly/natural colours that support a calming room.
• Soft lighting in play and calm down areas.
• Social-emotional books about feelings and mindfulness
• Soft rugs
• Cozy tents
• Floor cushions
• Yoga mats
• Soft music on Bluetooth speakers or a sound machine
• Weighted animals

Example Principle 5

Be good stewards of the land, purchasing toys and materials that will be used for many years by investing in sourcing eco-friendly equipment made from natural, sustainable materials. 

Examples that support this vision include:

• Made in compliance with ethical labour and environmental practices. 
• Materials that can be shared amongst other appropriate age groups to provide children with a broader range of choices 
• Non-toxic finished products
• Gardening tools 
• Wooden tables, chairs and shelving
• Washable materials for reuse
• Lego and Duplo blocks- from second-hand stores
• Items from second-hand stores, such as pots and pans, dress-up clothes, etc., to avoid adding to our landfills. 
• Check out the Compass ELC’s Learning Library.  It’s a program that gives access to a wonderful inventory of items available to borrow for a period of time, then return to share within the community.  Draw inspiration from their examples.  Certain items can be purchased. They also give workshops on how to find and use “loose parts”

What is your approach to sharing between program rooms? Are you striving for many material choices (typically meaning storage is filled)?

What can be shared? What will be permanently in the room versus seasonal items or brought out to respond to children’s interests? Choose items that can be easily adapted for different age groups versus one-use/one-purpose items.

Conversations to Start

Start with the following conversations:

• What activities stimulate curiosity and engage children? 
• What are some of the “staples” necessary for all program rooms?
• Which materials are easier to maintain and sanitize?
• What items are better for home use rather than for child care?
• What loose parts will we need inside and outside of our programs?
• What STEM activities should we be offering?
• How does sports play a role in our programs? 
• What items could be transportable for outside use?
• How will we be flexible to accommodate all types of play?
•  Which equipment could be shared amongst all programs?
• What materials can we offer children they can’t access at home or in their community?
•  Will any of the space be shared with other groups? Will there be any challenges around setting up and taking down materials?
• What items need to be consistently available, and what types of items can be shared?