Take a break! - Places to recharge your batteries
A day at daycare is demanding and challenging. That’s why breaks are important. But what child wants to go all the way to the nap room just for a quick break? At the Inclusive Family Center in Korbach, North Hesse, every group room features raised platforms, caves, and nooks—in other words, quiet spaces for every taste. Stella Rönsch, deputy director of the facility, writes about this in an article for the magazine klein & groß
Being part of the group while still feeling protected: This can mean something different for every child. Children with severe multiple disabilities, for example, find such places on platforms, says Stella Rönsch from the Korbach Family Center. Mobile children like to retreat to raised platforms. This option is particularly well-suited for introverted children. From there, they can keep an eye on what’s happening in the group room without having to worry about being approached themselves. Stella Rönsch also observes that recharging one’s batteries isn’t just a solitary activity. Sometimes several children sit close together in a cave or nook and are visibly at ease.
The article concludes with five tips from Kameleon space consultant Anja von Karstedt. She explains the basic considerations for positioning and designing quiet spaces.