Head Start Center Observation

As I drove up to the Acres Homes Head Start Center, I noticed that the facility was in an impoverished neighborhood. I was surprised to discover that the Acres Homes Head Start Center is not a stand-alone building, in fact, it is located inside of a recreational center that provides various services to assist the surrounding community. I entered the main building and followed the signs that led me to Acres Homes Head Start Center. Aside from a few colorful caricatures on the see-through glass entrance, the exterior of the childcare center was not eye-catching, and did not appeal to my inner child, which led me to assume that the interior design would not encourage growth, learning and development. However, after observing the staff and children

Instantly, the bright lighting and cleanliness of the interior of the facility struck me. The bright lighting seemed to highlight the multi-colored artwork and durable furniture in the room to make the space feel child-friendly. Organization was one of the key aspects that helped the teachers and children have a safe and fun learning experience. For cleaning and emergencies, essential items and areas were labeled properly, and were accessible to adult caregivers, but out of reach to children to prevent health and safety risks. The floors were clean and free of clutter to promote free movement and play in each classroom. The toys were child-sized, and there no small, detachable pieces to avoid choking hazards. Within the classroom, the interest centers are arranged along the walls, and during reading instruction, the middle area is used to form a reading circle. The preschoolers had a variety of activities to choose from at each interest station. The Block Center had Lego blocks, wooden blocks and shapes; The Writing Center had dry erase boards, paper and pencils; the Cooking Center was filled with play foods and a child-sized kitchen set; and the Math Center had wooden stick and rubber cubes for counting. The teachers interacted with the children by guiding activities in the classroom, allowing the children to play independently on the playground, constantly communicating behavioral