• Infant/Toddler Care
• Preschool Care
• School Age Care
• Our Teachers
• Curriculum + Classrooms
  • Curriculum
    • Developmental Assessment
    • Sample Weekly Curriculum
  • Environment
    • Key Interest Areas
    • Environmental Assessments (ECKERS)
  • NAEYC Accreditation
• Support Services
• Locations

Key Interest Areas

Each Key Interest Area provides a range of large and small motor activities in order to foster well-rounded development, including cognitive growth, aesthetic sensibility, self-expression and cultural awareness. The educational materials and toys in the Key Interest Areas are shelved and labeled with photographs of the items stored in each compartment and the name of the item printed in English, Spanish and other languages that are spoken by the children in the classroom. All Kidango classrooms include the following Key Interest Areas:

Literacy Area
In the Literacy Area, your child will learn about symbols, cause and effect, and sequencing as they create stories and learn how to structure letters to create words and meaning. The Literacy Center houses a variety of writing instruments and supplies (paper, dry-erase boards, post-it notes, notebooks, journals, chalk boards, note cards, stencils, stamps, letter cards) that offer children the opportunity to use writing for a specific purpose. Children scribble, trace, copy, and create symbols and shapes, letters and words.

In our Literacy Areas, teachers engage children in literacy activities through oral reading, reciprocal reading, repeated readings of books, listening centers, descriptions of illustrations and story predictions. Kidango teachers carefully and purposefully choose books that reflect different cultures and abilities and promote inclusion of all children. Books are available in a variety of interest areas—including fantasy, factual information, and stories about people, animals, and nature—to stimulate a child’s interest in reading and language development. All languages of the children enrolled in the center are represented in the Literacy Center.

Discovery Area for Math and Science Exploration
In the Math and Science Exploration Area, children can find scales, magnifying glasses, measuring instruments, droppers, binoculars, rocks, shells, plants, and many other items that they can use to learn how to problem solve, investigate their world, learn about numerical concepts, anticipate outcomes, and learn about sequencing. <

Construction Zone Building Area
The Construction Zone and Building Area is located away from the line of traffic with ample space, a variety of blocks (wooden unit blocks, hollow blocks, soft blocks, cardboard-brick blocks), a variety of props (multi-ethnic families & community workers, rulers, road signs, vehicles), maps, writing materials and books. Block play promotes learning and growth in all areas of development including: vocabulary development, geometry, cause and effect, cooperative play, spatial relationships and problem-solving.

Dramatic Play Area
The Dramatic Play Area allows children to explore themes related to family life and share common experiences. The Dramatic Play Area is more than a "play house". Teachers and children transform the Dramatic Play Area into a doctor’s office, a grocery store, a post office, or whatever the group’s interests dictate. The Dramatic Play Area includes: dolls representing children of varying cultures, genders, and abilities, items commonly found in the children’s homes, telephone books, writing materials, costumes, and more. The possibilities are endless to encourage creativity, promote language, experience different cultures, promote social-emotional growth, and support all domains of learning.

Fine Motor Toys & Games Area
Also known as the "Manipulative Area", the Fine Motor Toys and Games Area serves to cultivate children’s emerging math, science, social-studies, literacy skills, problem-solving skills, and develop fine-motor ability. In this area of the classroom, typically reserved for a small number of children to use at one time, one may find: puzzles, shape sorters, lotto games, dominos, Legos, collectibles to match & sort, beads, magnetic boards, and the like.

Art Area
Art may be created and found in many areas of a Kidango classroom. Each classroom also designates an Art Area which is both appealing and well-organized, to inspire children’s creativity and self expression. Art materials are carefully selected and made available for the children to use both indoors and outdoors. The Art Area is stocked with items needed to paint, draw, cut & paste, and create three dimensional art. Spending time exploring the Art Area stimulates growth in all areas of a child’s development including: number concepts, patterns, physical science, creative expression, and social skills.

Outdoor Learning Area
The outdoor classroom is equally as important as the indoor classroom at Kidango. Children at all Kidango centers are provided time each day to enjoy and explore the outdoors. Gross motor space has a variety of surfaces permitting different types of play. Children are encouraged to climb, jump, run, hop, maneuver obstacle courses, and play cooperatively as well as alone. Stationary and portable gross motor equipment (tricycles, ladders, parachutes, balls, jump ropes, ramps, and access to climbing structures) is available daily to stimulate physical development at different levels. Children are also provided books, writing/art materials, blocks, and a variety of group games while outdoors.

Music/Dance Area
A Music/Dance Area is also commonplace in Kidango classrooms. Instruments, sheet music to play with, scarves to dance with, and a variety of recorded music allow children to choose music, create music, and move their bodies, thus developing gross motor skills.