In an earlier post, I shared some information from the Early Childhood Consultation Partnership© (ECCP) about the need and benefits of creating a quiet space for infants and toddlers in a child care setting. Now I’d like to share some additional information from ECCP on ways to incorporate a quiet space in a preschool classroom.
Preschoolers may need quiet time for themselves at different points of the day. A full day of childcare can be stressful and difficult to manage for some young children. A ‘be-bymyself’ space can be set aside in the classroom for a child to use when he or she feels overwhelmed, upset, or tense. This serves as a protected place where children are taught to go to in order to relax, calm down, or take a break. A teacher can join the child, if he or she needs support in calming down or feeling secure.
Here are some tips for creating a quiet space in a classroom:
- Consider creating with children a ‘be-by-myself ‘space or ‘cozy area’ within a small contained area in your classroom (ex. play hut, tent, cushioned space, etc.). You may include items such as, pillows, a bean bag chair, feelings books, and photos. Be sure this area is visible to teachers.
- View this as a quiet, protected place where a child can choose to go if he or she becomes overwhelmed, upset, or angry. Teachers may also encourage a child to go to this space. It is important that this is not used as a consequence or “Time Out.”
- Teach children how to use this area ahead of time, creating rules, such as ‘one at a time.’ Continue to make this an important part of your classroom by reviewing what it is for, modeling, and making periodic changes to keep it interesting.
- Practice relaxation techniques with children ahead of time, such as blowing up like a balloon, stretching or counting to ten on his or her fingers, suggest he or she repeat these things in the ‘be-by-myself’ space or ‘cozy area’. Place visual reminders of these techniques in the cozy area.
Some items that you can use and even create with the children are a cozy corner worksheet and an emotions booklet (with pictures of the children making faces of different feelings).
What kinds of things do you put in your “cozy corner” or “quiet space”?
Resources:
Organizing Classroom and Outdoor Learning Environments
White, C. S., & Coleman, M. (2000).
Soft Spaces www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/softspaces/index.html
Brought to you by:
ECCP
Early Childhood Consultation Partnership©
A program of Advanced Behavioral Health www.abhct.com
Funded by CT Department of Children & Families
Thanks for the reminders about introducint the place. I will be creating a quiet space in my integrated preschool this weekend. I want to introduce it to all of the children as a place they can use in need or by teacher encouragement. We use a library pocket and a popsicle stick to limit the number of children in each area. This article was a wonderful find. Thanks
You’re welcome, Sherrie!
Is it ok to have a separate space for a cozy area and another for a consequence corner? I am being told that it is the same thing and I am in disagreement but of course I have to back it up with facts can you help?
Hi Sandra – thanks for your question. The intent of the cozy corner is a place that a child can go to have some alone time, a place to de-stress and relax. It is not meant to be a consequence corner. The idea is for children to have a safe place they can go to if they are feeling overwhelmed, sad, etc. A place a child may choose to go to for a variety of reasons.
I would not want to setup a consequence or “time_out” corner, as that would have a negative connotation – and be a place in the room that children would want to avoid. We want our classrooms to be inviting and that all spaces in the room would be explored. I hope that helps!
Should the cozy corner be defined as separate from reading or other areas?
Hi Elizabeth – thanks for your question! It really all depends on the space you have available in your classroom. I have seen it at various centers done multiple ways, and in some cases, the reading center and cozy corner were combined due to limited space. If you are able to create a separate space for the cozy corner, that would be ideal as the reading center can be a social space where multiple children typically engage in looking at books together. Sometimes a reconfiguration of the classroom can yield a small corner of space (or a space between two other learning centers) that can be turned into a cozy corner!