ABSTRACT

Emmy’s House of Hugs values the whole child and hopes to fulfill every aspect of their developmental needs. Children need toys, furniture and equipment to uphold these standards. The facility does not have enough in their budget for new equipment and in order to fulfill the needs of the children, so a grant is needed. According to educational research, the physical structure of a classroom is a critical variable in affecting student morale and learning. It is important for children to be able to have the equipment and materials that are up to date and are well taken care of. Children’s learning becomes compromised when they are not provided the appropriate materials. Wood toys and play structures serve a better purpose than plastic, so replacing the current toys with better wooden materials would improve learning. Wooden toys are more durable (yielding less waste than their plastic counterparts), biodegradable and may even be made with sustainable wood. Good quality, eco-friendly wooden toys also don’t contain PVC, phthalates, or similar chemicals used in plastic toys, according to recent literature. The toys and equipment at Emmy’s House of Hugs is not up to this standard. Large motor muscles are crucial in development, and these improved toys would facilitate that development. Improvements are needed both inside and outside of the center. The outdoor play area has limited materials for students to develop their large motor muscles. To establish a better learning environment for the children and improve learning and development, an estimated grant of $10,000 is being requested for improving the center’s facility and materials. This funding would cover an outdoor play structure, the ground coverings, new furniture, and sustainable wooden toys that are both durable and safe in the classroom.