Often times we hear from programs that are trying to make quality improvements that they simply don't have the financial means to include all the items they would like to.  Programs are striving for better experiences for children which can result in increased PQA scores as well.  The programs begin to feel frustrated and lose motivation when they open up the early childhood catalogs and look at the price of items to purchase to meet the indicated standards. 

What is included in this issue of the Consultants Connection is the sharing of some ideas of we have seen in programs or researched that are cost effective and can help you to meet the standards and provide awesome experiences for children.  We would ask that if you have any ideas to share with others or any inexpensive ways to incorporate some of the PQA items in your programs, please contact the QICs (listed at the end of the newsletter) with your photos and ideas so we can share them with others.

Adding natural items to the environment is one area we hear a lot of concerns about.  Programs look through the catalog and find "natural" items including wooden shelves, equipment, and furniture and although those are great additions to the environment, they are not the only ways to add items. Below are just a few of the ways we have seen programs add natural and cultural items to their environment:

• use a tree branch with multiple limbs as a drying rack for art experience creations
• use stone/rocks with numbers or letters written on them for math and literacy activities
• empty juice containers with pine needles, pine cones, sea shells, stones, etc inside for infant and toddler programs
• add plants to the classroom on top of shelves and/or hanging from the wall or ceiling
• gather materials to use in the art experience area such as leaves, flower petals, pine needles, pine cones, small stones, twigs
• display empty bee hives and bird nests
• add tree branches to borders of bulletin boards and door frames