Not every church has ideal space for preschoolers and children, so making the best of what you have is important. First of all, take a look at the classroom allocations church-wide. Do the big people have the big rooms? Space guidelines suggest 35 square feet per person in preschool rooms, 25 in children’s rooms, and only 15-18 square feet per person for adult classrooms. Perhaps space issues could be relieved by re-assigning age groups to rooms that are more adequate for their needs.

For maximum use of preschool and children’s space, consider these steps:

• Remove all unnecessary furnishings and equipment. If space is limited, replace chairs and tables with a clean floor and carpet squares for sitting. Or, put tables against the wall to create more floor space.
• Replace pianos with CD players.
• Store infrequently-used equipment/materials in another area, bringing them into the classroom only when specifically needed for a learning activity.
• Use windowsills for bookshelves. (Move books after each session to avoid sun damage.)