Activity 2-3:
What Do the Children
Play With?

Purpose: In this activity, participants will select materials and equipment that respond to children's individual and developmental needs across the four domains and reflect their cultures and home languages.

Outcomes:
Participants select materials and equipment that match children's backgrounds, abilities, skills, needs, and interests.

Participants involve parents in creating appropriate environments and selecting and using appropriate materials and equipment that encourage children's growth and development.

Materials:
Chart paper, markers, tape
Catalogs from companies that sell materials for early childhood programs
Head Start Facilities Manual
Handout 6: Portrait of a Child
Handout 7: A Personalized Inventory
Handout 8: Ongoing Child Study (Part C)
Appendix F

1. Explain to participants that this activity will focus on matching materials and equipment to the individual and developmental skills and needs of a child.

2. Ask participants to form small groups. Distribute Handout 6: Portrait of a Child. Have each group create a fictional Head Start child. Explain that the group will define the child's age and gender and make up information about the child's background, interests, abilities, skills, and needs. Have one or more groups create one child with a disability and one with limited English skills. After the written portraits are complete, have each small group pass its child to another group.

3. Have the small groups read the portrait of the child they received. Distribute Handout 7: A Personalized Inventory and Appendix F. Ask the groups to select materials and equipment that will respond to the child and encourage growth and development across the four domains.

Trainer Preparation Notes:

If possible, provide a catalog of early childhood resources for each small group to use with Appendix F to make their selections. Also provide one or more copies of the Head Start Facilities Manual.

4. Have small groups make presentations to the large group. Each group should describe the child and explain why the materials and equipment the group selected are appropriate for this child and how they will support growth and development.

5. Lead a summary discussion on how an appropriate inventory of materials and equipment can support children's development. Cover home, center, and group socialization settings.

Trainer Preparation Notes:

Use the Background Information for this module to review criteria for appropriate materials and equipment for young children.

6. Distribute Handout 8: Ongoing Child Study (Part C). Ask participants to think about the toys, materials, and equipment that the children who are the focus of their studies use. Participants can list the items the child uses and their recommendations for additional items in Part C of the handout. (Reminder: Parts A and B were provided in Module 1.)

Activity 2-2 | Activity 2-4 | Module 2 | Index