A learning center is a place where the children are either taught or trained with utmost care and attention. Therefore, the design of the space has a vital role in enhancing learning capabilities for children. Many factors need to be considered while designing this space; these elements are based on the minimum requirement for high-quality early childhood education centers.
Important Elements of Early learning Centre Design:
Space is an important element when choosing a location for an ELC; a location should have the necessary infrastructure to meet safety requirements that include security, accessibility, mobility, and being away from busy roads. For example, it should have a separate entry point for staff entering the premises. If possible, opt for a two-story building to have good ventilation throughout the building and access to natural light through large windows in most areas.
In an ELC, the furniture should accommodate a large number of children at a time to allow children to interact with each other. It is preferable if the furniture can be rearranged according to the need and purpose of the learning activity. The colors used in designing these spaces should attract children and contribute to their stimulation and positive engagement.
In order to create a stimulating environment, the use of natural materials that are friendly to the environment is recommended. They should be easy to clean and maintain without compromising on health and safety standards. In terms of lighting, apart from using incandescent lamps, you may also consider low energy bulbs as they provide higher levels of light compared to standard bulbs with the same power consumption. The use of thermocouple or UV coated plastic sheeting in place of glass windows can help reduce the load on air conditioning systems during hot weather conditions.
Similarly, good ventilation will play a vital role in providing a healthy atmosphere for children working, thereby reducing the chances of illness due to stale air inside the room. Good ventilation allows fresh air from outside into the center along with moving polluted indoor air to the outside.
Early learning center design should be made in such a way that it will provide children with privacy, safety, free space for physical activities to allow them to explore freely, and separate spaces can be created within the playroom to accommodate the quiet activity. The flooring should be soft and comfortable, which can help reduce injuries caused by falls, especially among toddlers. Similarly, designing adequate storage space into the room allows staff members to work efficiently as storage of equipment needed on a daily basis is an additional task for them which takes away their attention from instructional tasks.