The Right Preschool Furniture and Layout for your Classroom

by Saul Wagner

When you choose the right preschool classroom furniture, you will know right away that you have made the correct decision. When our youngest students are beginning their educational journey, and some of them are even experiencing formal education for the first time, giving them a positive experience is so important. Classroom furniture that is inviting, comfortable and appropriately sized helps students build confidence. To get the right arrangement from the beginning, you need to think about each area of the classroom, and exactly what you need to maximize its potential.

Why do preschool students need to have furniture in the right size?

When your youngest students walk into the classroom and see that everything is just right for them, it helps them build confidence. When they can easily get in and out of their chairs themselves, and reach everything on the shelves, they learn how to do things independently, and are empowered to do more and more things themselves. So appropriately-sized chairs don’t only allow for proper blood flow, but also help develop life skills and build character.

What chair size is the best for preschool?

The most important factor in choosing preschool chairs is the seat height. Children should be able to sit with their feet resting flat on the floor, and a seat at the right height allows them to do just that. When feet are resting flat on the floor, students can have healthy circulation while they sit and work, without having pressure at the back of their knees. The best chair seat height for children in a preschool classroom is a 12” seat. It might be a good idea to have a few chairs that are a bit shorter or a bit taller, to accommodate the children who are a few inches shorter or taller than average.

Which style of preschool classroom furniture is the best?

Getting the right fit is really important, but there are other factors to consider in order to make the right choice for your preschool classroom. Comfort and style make a big difference as well. While you definitely need some more standard preschool tables and chairs, you also want to add some variety into the space as well. Comfy soft seating will make a great addition to any learning space, and preschool is no exception. This is just the thing you need in a quiet reading nook, or a corner where students go to calm down when they are feeling overwhelmed or upset. The more comfortable and attractive the soft seating is, the more at home and welcome your students will feel. It is exceptionally important to foster those feelings toward your preschool classroom, so students will have positive associations with school from the very beginning.

Essential Preschool Spaces and the Furniture You Need:

• A central meeting space, where students can gather around a colorful classroom rug to learn together. This is where traditional “circle time” activities usually take place.
• The imaginative play area is one of the most important spaces in your classroom. It might include some play kitchen furniture, costumes, and all sorts of accessories for pretend play.
• Sensory play spaces are another staple of early-childhood classrooms. This will usually include a sand and water table. But don’t be deceived by that designation, the deep tubs of that table can be filled with all sorts of manipulatives, which students can explore using all manner of tools and instruments.
• A building block corner allows students to explore basic concepts of gravity and physics, while also building teamwork and problem-solving skills.
• Group learning spaces are where educators can take time to sit with smaller groups of students. This space is a critical component in teachers’ ability to assess their students’ learning. It should include an activity table in a shape that allows educators to observe student work closely, while sitting and work on more academic tasks.
• The nature and science corner should be filled with an ever-changing array of natural materials that students can explore with various tools. Of course this space should be outfitted with an appropriate table and all of the bins and shelving you need to keep the materials organized.
• A technology area can get students started off right with using devices for educational purposes. Consider putting this space in an easily observable area of the classroom, so the teachers can make sure that students are treating devices with proper care.
• Literacy and reading nooks are so important for fostering a love of reading among our youngest students. This space should be filled with cozy, appropriately-sized seating. It also doubles as a quiet space where students can go when they feel overwhelmed or just need to take a moment to themselves.
• The math and manipulatives center is where students do some independent exploration to develop the foundations in math. This center should have constantly evolving activities, and will include an appropriate space for students to sit down and work.
• Music and movement centers are where students can explore sound, and work on creating their own unique rhythms together. This is a wonderfully creative space which can bring out another side of our youngest learners. Sometimes little ones just need to make some noise and that is what they can do here.

preschool is a critical year for learning, which can set the tone for our students’ entire educational experience. The more we invest in making this the best experience possible, the better opportunity our students have for a future full of educational success. With furniture that fits perfectly, and cheerfully invites students into a comfortable, supportive space, we can get our students started off right. The more thought goes into furnishing each and every area of the classroom before the students come in, the more they can gain from this experience, starting from day one.

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