Identify the ten criteria for selecting materials for an early childhood program, and explain how you would use them to evaluate an example of play materials for purchase.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The ten criteria are 1. developmentally appropriate, 2. active, 3. open-ended, 4. give feedback, 5. multipurpose, 6. safe and durable, 7. attractive, 8. nonsexist, nonracial, 9. variety, and 10 duplicate. For example, if I were buying building sets, I would evaluate whether blocks or Legos were more appropriate for the age group that would be using them. A building set is something that can be acted on and is an open-ended toy in that children can build whatever their imagination envisions. This type of material does not generally give feedback EXCEPT when the child’s structure topples because it was off balance. A building set is multipurpose because students of different abilities can choose how complex a structure to erect. Most building sets on the market are safe and durable, but I would need to check on things like lead-free paint. Most building sets are attractive, and they are neutral when it comes to sex and race. I might consider buying a variety of building materials, such as both blocks and Legos. Such materials are easy to buy duplicates of.