Chapter 7
Dealing primarily with the development of facilities for
center-based care, the child activity spaces in these cen-
ters are organized around an architecturally defined
Home Base. The number of children in each Home
Base is determined by staffing ratios as they relate to the
age of the children served. Two (sometimes three) Home
Bases are paired around common spaces. In this way, a
small group of children have a sense of identity and of
place within the larger facility.
a. Home Base Activity Spaces
(1) Book and Quiet Area
(a) Description. This area should be a well-defined
area with soft surfaces and natural lighting.
(b) Space Allocation. See Table 7 - 28.
(c) Relationships. Screen this area from high activity
and high noise producing areas.
(2) Imaginative Play
(a) Description. Provide a minimum of two areas, one
that is concrete such as a play house and one that is
ambiguous. Provide furnishings that can be altered by
the children.
(6) Eating/Cooking Areas
(b) Space Allocation. See Table 7 - 28.
(a) Description. These are spaces which always
double function with other suitable activity spaces. They
(c) Relationships. Buffer from circulation.
should be home-like and full of natural light.
(3) Science/Nature
(b) Space Allocation. See Table 7 - 28.
(a) Description. Provide a sunny area or partial green-
(c) Relationships. Eating areas should be adjacent to
house for animals, plants, and physical science
main circulation.
materials.
(7) Napping Places
(b) Space Allocation. See Table 7 - 28.
(a) Description. Include provisions for napping within
(c) Relationships. Locate this area on the east or
either large common spaces or dispersed within home
southeast side in good natural light. Separate or buffer it
base activities.
from more active areas.
(b) Space Allocation. See Table 7 - 28.
(4) Table Toys
(c) Relationships. Easily accessible to toilets.
(a) Description. This area is devoted to storage and
work surfaces for small manipulative toys and games.
(8) Crib Spaces for Infants
(b) Space Allocation. See Table 7 - 28.
(a) Description. Provide crib spaces that are acousti-
cally controlled, but visually connected and physically
(c) Relationships. This area may serve as a buffer
accessible from other infant areas.
between highly active and quiet activity areas.
(b) Space Allocation. See Table 7 - 28.
(5) Blocks
(c) Relationships. Locate this area adjacent to the
(a) Description. This area should accommodate either
diapering area.
individuals or groups of 6 - 8 children playing with blocks
and building toys or projects. In larger centers, provide a
(9) Diapering Station
separate semi-enclosed woodworking area.
(a) Description. Provide an area that is quiet, protected
(b) Space Allocation. See Table 7 - 28.
from drafts and infant-scaled.
(c) Relationships. Separate from the book and quiet
(b) Space Allocation. See Table 7 - 28.
area and other quiet activity areas.
(c) Relationships. Locate the diapering area adjacent
to the crib space.
Page 7-24 DG 1110-3-142
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