Kindermark Kids Blog

6 Tips for Designing Your Waiting Room

Whether you have a doctor’s office, dentist’s office or some other place with a waiting room, you want to make your patients feel welcome and relaxed. Studies have shown that the aesthetics and feel of a doctor’s waiting room can affect patient anxiety and perception of the quality of the doctor more than the actual wait time itself. That’s why Kindermark Kids has gathered a few tips to help you design the perfect waiting room, something that works for adults and children alike.

 

1. Make Sure There’s Enough Room.

The worst thing about a waiting room, is a crowded waiting room with people coughing and sneezing on top of each other. When designing your waiting room from scratch, consider the size. Think about the number of patients you see in an hour’s time, and don’t forget to include those they bring along that will be waiting for them, such as a spouse or other family member. Be sure to consider the children as well; they need room to move around and play or they will get bored, which can lead to unruly acts and temper tantrums.  

 

2. Create an Inviting Entrance.

No one really wants to go to the doctor or dentist, especially those with little children. Therefore, it’s important that you create a welcoming entrance. Make them feel comfortable with being there and create a good first impression. Keep the entrance clean and clutter-free. Visible grime is a universal turnoff and you don’t want that to be how patients remember your practice. Consider placing a board with pictures of the staff at the entrance so that patients know who they will be interacting with from the beginning.

 

3. Establish the Reception Desk as the Focal Point.

From the moment patients arrive, they should be aware of where they need to sign in. In addition, there should always be someone there to greet the patient. One of the simplest ways to make people feel welcome is simply by acknowledging them verbally as they arrive. Treat your patients like they are in a fine dining restaurant rather than a doctor’s office waiting room.

 

4. Provide Ample Seating for Adults and Children.

When it comes to seating, you want to provide something that’s both stylish and comfortable. People don’t want to wait for long periods of time in uncomfortable chairs. Be sure to consider who will be in your waiting room as well. If your practice sees a lot of children, you’ll want to add special seating for them as well. Making the children comfortable is just as important as catering to the parents. Check out our variety of kid’s tables and chairs on our website.

 

5. Accentuate the Space with Lighting and Décor.

Most people that come to the doctor are not feeling well and are not in the best mood. The lighting and décor that you use can help set the mood of your office, so be sure it’s uplifting, happy and inspirational. Make sure your waiting room has the right amount of overhead lighting, lamps and wall fixtures to create a well-lit, appealing room. For the décor, incorporate a combination of wall art, vases and greenery. Keep it simple and unobtrusive, while creating a warm and welcoming environment that people will enjoy sitting in.

 

6. Include Aspects to Entertain Patients.

Both children and adults need to be entertained while they wait. Aside from the typical magazines you always see in a waiting room, consider adding some books in an organized book shelf. Children’s books are a great way to pass the time for both the children and the parents. When your practice caters primarily to children, having some educational toys available is also a must. Our online store offers a variety of educational toys and games that could be perfectly incorporated into your waiting room design. Televisions are not recommended, as they add noise and insinuate you’re going to be there for a while.

 

From seating and storage to toys and more, Kindermark Kids offers everything you need to make a fun environment for both children and their parents to wait. When designing your waiting room, be sure to check out the wide selection of waiting room furniture and toy items we can have shipped straight to you. There’s no need to run to the store and pick it up!

 

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5 Naptime Tips for Preschool Teachers

One of the most difficult times of the day for preschool teachers is naptime. The kids are all riled up from the morning activities, and do not want to calm down. In today’s blog, Kindermark Kids offers some advice to those teachers dealing with difficult naptime situations. With these tips, you’re on your way to a successful nap time!

 

1. Transition Gradually.

Going from high intensity play straight to laying down, being still and quiet doesn’t usually work too well. Help students move from high energy activities to low energy activities. Winding down is an important step in helping children take full advantage of naptime. Ask the children to start getting ready for naptime by arranging their cots or mats on the floor, but don’t have them lay down just yet. Bring them back together to read a quiet book. Slowly the children will start to relax, being better prepared for when naptime begins.

 

 2. Set the Tone for Resting.

Dim the lights and play quiet music or other white noise to create a calm and soothing environment. This helps set the tone for resting, and lets the children know it’s almost naptime. As you move around the room helping children get ready for nap time, do so quietly and slowly. Be sure to use a hushed voice to encourage children to settle down and do the same.

 

3. Establish a Routine.

Preschoolers thrive on consistency. Be sure to make nap time a routine by having it at the same time every day. Most of the time, naps are taken in the afternoon. By keeping a regular schedule, their bodies will learn the routine and begin to trigger their natural clocks. This helps make nap time even more successful. Keep naptime a set length as well; 90 minutes is the suggested maximum naptime length for young children. Too long of a nap can cause crankiness, and even often difficulty with bed time that night.

 

4. Set Realistic Expectations.

If you’re new to teaching and you expect your preschoolers to just lay down and be quiet without a fuss, you’re in for a treat. Be sure to set realistic expectations for not only the children, but for yourself. You don’t want nap time becoming all about discipline. Keep your voice calm rather than raising it when I child gets up or speaks during nap time. Assess your reactions, adjust and keep calm. Have a plan of how you will handle situations during nap time before they arise.

 

5. Prepare for No Naps.

Some children just do not nap well. You don’t want to force them to actually sleep, only to be quiet while others sleep. Plan quiet activities that can occupy those children while the others take their naps. This could be looking at a book, coloring or working on a puzzle. You just want to make sure they are staying quiet and not bothering those that are sleeping.

 

Bonus Tip: Refer to nap time as quiet time, toddlers will begin to associate the term “nap time” and will start to naturally resist it. Chances are most of them will end up falling asleep on their own.

 

Kindermark Kids offers a variety of products to help make naptime in your classroom a success. Be sure to check out our stackable rest cots and rest mats. Both items make creating a rest area easy, without taking up too much storage space. Our cots offer the latest technology to provide a safe, clean cot for the children in your care. Our mats are made with long lasting, easy to clean materials that will keep children safe and comfortable. Visit our website to learn more!

 

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3 Fun Fall Activities for Preschoolers

The fall season offers opportunities for preschoolers to take part in a variety of different fun activities. From pumpkins to colorful leaves, the possible craft projects and learning experiences are endless. In today’s blog we discuss several of our favorite fall projects that preschool teachers can implement into their teaching plans this fall.

 

1. Creating a Fall Sensory Table. 

Sensory activities play an important role in development. They facilitate exploration and naturally encourage children to use scientific processes while they play, create, investigate and explore. Sensory tables provide children with a variety of sensory input experiences including tactile, vestibular, prospective and visual processing. In addition, scooping things is a fun way to strengthen fine motor skills. Kindermark Kids offers a variety of sensory tables to choose from. Then just fill them with your choice of items for the children to play with. During the fall season, you can use orange, yellow and red dyed pasta or rice, pine cones, sticks and leaves. You could even incorporate the sense of smell by adding some pumpkin spice seasoning in when dying the pasta or rice.   

 

2. Painting a Pumpkin.

Preschoolers love to paint! Not only is it a fun activity, but it’s also a way for children to communicate their emotions or feelings. During the fall season, get rid of your typical paper and paint on pumpkins instead! How fun is that? Now their painting will become 3-dimentional. You can also teach children how to mix colors of paint to create new colors. Painting aids children in developing mobility skills too. Their hand muscles are being used, which allows them a scope to develop both mentally and physically. Letting them finger paint allows them to feel the textures of the paint as well as the pumpkin. Then you can teach them how to clean up using a child height portable sink for your classroom!

 

3. Collecting Colorful Leaves.

The best part about fall is that the leaves start changing colors. Exploring the outdoors and collecting different types of leaves is a fun way to get preschools moving and learning at the same time. You could start the activity by reading a book about the seasons changing and leaves falling. Then head outside for a nature hike. Once you’ve collected leaves, you can use them to create a collage to frame and display on the wall for some seasonal decoration. Another option is to use the leaves as stencils. Place the leaves under paper and let the children color over it. Not only does this leave a leaf shape on the paper, but it creates texture.

 

Kindermark Kids is here to help you make your preschool classroom a place where children can both learn and have fun. From our unique educational toys to our convenient storage solutions, we have everything you need to create an environment where your preschool students can thrive! Happy Fall Ya’ll!

 

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Welcome to the Kindermark Kids Blog!

Kindermark Kids is now blogging! Our mission is to advance the business and professional goals of our customers and team members, while promoting the well-being of children and families. We’re now doing so not only through the quality products we provide, but through the helpful information you will find in this blog series. In our coming blogs, you will find information about our products and services, tips and tricks for early childhood learning, industry news, research and statistics, and more!

 

About Kindermark Kids

Kindermark Kids is a family owned and operated company dedicated to outstanding service to our valued customers. We provide a wide range of products for young children in day care centers, early learning centers, Head Start classrooms, children’s waiting areas, churches and home settings. Items you will find in our online catalog include children’s furniture, storage, portable sinks, carpets, décor, educational toys, blocks, games and more! All of our products are commercial quality. They meet the highest standards for durability and will stand up to vigorous play over long periods of time. They also meet national safety standards, assuring superior quality materials and construction.

 

Products We Offer

Kindermark Kids offers a wide variety of products, from classroom furniture to games and toys. Here’s a list of some of our favorite items:

• Play Cubes and Play Tables
• Children’s Tables and Chairs
• Easels and Art Tables
• Blocks and Maze Toys
• Active, Dramatic and Pretend Play
• Carpets and Rugs
• Portable Sinks
• Cots, Cribs and Sleep Mats
• Cubbies and Lockers
• Storage Cabinets
• …and MORE!

 

Clients We Work With

While our products are available online to everyone, we work particularly close with the following businesses and organizations:

• WIC Centers
• Head Start Programs
• Universities
• Libraries
• Schools
• Churches
• Government Agencies
• Hospitals
• Military

 

For over a decade now, Kindermark Kids has been providing carefully chosen toys, accessories and furniture to allow you to create amazing play spaces in your classrooms, daycares, Sunday schools, waiting rooms and more. We take pride in both the quality of our customer service, and we stand behind what we sell. We will do everything possible to ensure total customer satisfaction.

 

Connect With Us!

We are excited to be bringing you new, relevant information each month through this blog and our other social media channels. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to keep up with everything happening at Kindermark Kids. If you would like more information about products for your business or organization, we would love to talk with you!

 

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