Another idea is to clip spring-snap clothespins to the edge of a piece of posterboard and hang it in each center.  When children come to play in a particular center, they each clip a clothespin to their collar then remove it before leaving that center.  If a child comes to that center to play but finds there are no clothespins on the card, that means the center has its limit of children already playing there, so he/she must go elsewhere.  This works especially nicely for younger children who aren't proficient in counting.  To take this a step further, you can color code the posterboard and clothespins (use red ones for the Art Center, yellow ones for the Play Kitchen, blue ones for the Science Center, etc).  The only problem I found with this method is that children often forget to clip a clothespin to their collar when they come in, or they forget to remove it when they leave.
 

Send your fantastic learning center ideas to be posted below.  Just e-mail them to me at stormie@bv.net

From Jo in Fremantle W Australia
     Over the years, I've had several moggies (cats) in my classes.  >^..^<  The first was when I lived in a small country town and my flat was next door to the preschool.  My cats would come over and visit whenever they felt like it and leave when life became too hectic!  The children would play with the cats in the home corner by dressing them up, wheeling them around in the prams (baby carriages), etc.  The cats were very easygoing!  The rules were: 1) If you play with the cats, you must wash your hands afterwards  2) No letting the cats lick you or lie on you  3) If the cats are asleep they are to be left alone  4) No being mean to the cats.
     The other cat I had in the class was a stray who wandered in and decided to adopt us.  He came and went as he pleased.  The Principal was not greatly amused when "Tom" decided he liked his office and slept on his chair at every opportunity.  Cats decide when they've had enough.  Just be firm with the children and the rules!!

From Debbie Reynolds
I'm a preschool teacher who uses my cat, Dora, extensively in my classroom!  Dora is a 15 yr old Calico.  Here are some of the ways we include our "classroom pet" into our day: The children take turns taking Dora home with them.  She sends e-mails to the children and parents.  We have a "Totally Dora Day."  Usually Dora has something to say to individual children about a good day, co-operation, trying a new skill, etc.  Dora's rule for lunch is "at least 3 bites" since Dora loves vegetables.  Parents tell me that their children are now eating vegetables at home because of Dora!!  For our spring picnic, we made tie-dye shirts that say "Dora's Kid" on the front.  We have Dora stamps and stuffed Doras.  The children are very protective of her.  And if Dora disapproves of something, it usually doesn't happen again!!  Parents sometimes ask Dora to work with their child on a problem and Dora always does.  We also grow "Kitty Herbal Grass" for her in our window, and she gets presents at Christmas.  Dora is able to explore all areas of the room and has her own bed.  She takes a nap each day to the sounds from a special cd that helps us all take a nap.  The children become attached to her almost by accident and it just grows.  I have a HUGE collection of "cat" books and the children know the difference between a calico, tabby, etc.  I also have 3 cat "angels" (cats who have passed on).  This is especially helpful when a child loses a pet as we discuss how "MacGuyver, Sooshi, and Cinnamon" will be there to watch over their pets.

Char Kalagian sent me, Stormie, this absolutely fabulous idea she got from a friend: When limiting the number of children in one center, cut "child pictures" out of catalogs representing different cultures.  For example, if it's a "3 children allowed" center, glue 3 pictures on construction paper, print the number next to the pictures, then laminate it.  This little sign serves as number recognition and counting, it's multicultural, and means less headaches for me!! 

Here are two great ideas from "Stacie":
1. Hang clear plastic pockets at each learning center for students to place their name tags into.  For example, if you want only two students at your sensory basin, only two pockets would be available at that center.
2. I use a Learning Center Chart in my classroom: I place velcro dots next to learning centers listed on the chart: Blocks (4), Kitchen and Puppet area combined (4), Library (2), Sensory Basin (2), Art (4), Table Toys (2), Writing Center (2), and Lego Table (2).  After morning Circle Time, I usually say, "OK, meet me over at the Learning Center chart."  Once everyone is seated in front of the chart, I hand them their picture (a Polaroid I took of them in the beginning of the year), or you can hand them their name tags.  I call one student at a time to come up and choose a center.  I might say, "Oh, _______ is sitting nicely, I think he/she may come choose his/her center first (this usually works to help quiet everyone down).  That child then places their picture (or name tag) on a velcro dot.  Once everyone is at their center, we set a timer for fifteen mins.  After 15 minutes, we meet back at the chart and repeat the process.  Learning Center time lasts for 45 minutes with three rotations.
Note from Stormie: What I like about Stacie's idea is that it encourages children to play in and experience learning in several areas, rather than playing only in one center which they tend to do sometimes.  I like the name tags in the clear plastic pockets too -- great "name recognition" activity.

From Cheryl, who teaches Head Start: I laminate a piece of different color construction paper for each learning center then post them on the walls of the centers at eye level.  On the construction paper I place a piece of velcro per number of children allowed in that center.  For example, 2 children are allowed in the Computer Center so the construction paper on that wall has 2 pieces of velcro on it and a large Number 2.  At the beginning of the year I cut out bears in every color.  The children choose the bear they want, then we put their names on them.  Each day, after choosing the center they want to play in, the children place their bears on one of the velcro pieces in that center.  I then know that if a child's bear is in the writing center, that child should be in the writing center.  When the child is finished in one center, he or she may go into another center of their choice, taking their bears with them and placing them on the velcro pieces in the newly selected center.  This also helps with clean up because if a child's bear is in housekeeping and it's a mess, I know that child did not clean up after playing there.

From Michelle, a Headstart Teacher:
Hi Stormie, What I have found to be very effective for determining the number of children in a center is this: I gave each child a symbol to represent them (fish, boat, puppy, kite, etc).  (This helps out at the beginning of the year since most of them do not know how to read their names just yet.)  Then we wrote the child's name (with a black sharpie) on a lid from a frozen juice can (the edges are rounded, and are not harmful at all).  We scotch-taped his/her symbol on the lid too.  Then I made poster board cards for each learning center consisting of the number of students allowed in the center, and I traced the number of lids corresponding with the numeral.  (I laminated the cards.)  I then placed a small square of magnetic strip to each lid shape........it works great!  When children go to play in a center, they simply attach their lids to one of the lid shapes.  This is something that lasted ALL year, but the sharpie writting comes off with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol if names need to be re-written or changed.  I hope this works for someone out there.
Variation from Stormie: What a GREAT idea, huh?  As I read it, I was also reminded that one could probably use stickers for the symbols too?!

From Shawnna, Chapman Child Learning Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma:
I want to share an idea given to me for limiting the number of children in centers when a child needs to temporarily leave.  I had stop signs made out posterboard.  If a child in one of the centers needs to go to the bathroom, take something to his cubby, wash his hands, etc, he can lay a stop sign out in the center to show that he isn't changing centers and will be back.  The children seem to catch on and it saves a lot of arguments as to who was there first.

From Lynn Wallin, Allen, Texas:
 Stormie, I have discovered, especially in the beginning of the school year, that children play in certain groups but often don't know their classmates.  To encourage playing with different friends we came up with this: Color code the centers (as you suggested in "How Many Can Play") with an index card placed at each center (mine also have the number of children allowed in the center written on them -- this is for Fridays as I will explain later).  Next, decide how many children are allowed in each center and place that number of colored index cards in a "hat."  Each morning when the children come in, they choose a card from the "hat" without looking and that is the center they begin playing in.
  We rotate centers periodically so that everyone has a chance to play at each center.  We have the center colors posted on a chart.  The children rotate to the next color on the chart when the timer goes off.  We usually spend about 15 minutes in each center and I give a 3-minute, 2-minute then 1-minute warning.  (No big announcement, just a "3 minutes until the bell" statement).
  On Friday, the children are allowed to choose their own center.  The only rule is that the number allowed in each center must be the same.
  When working with younger children that didn't understand the above method, I used the stick figure method in all centers except the water/ sand table.  For that area, I taped a large circle on the floor for each child allowed to play at the center.  If there was no circle to stand on, the child had to make another choice.
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Reminder from Stormie: If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards."  Click here to check them out.