Furnishing and supplying an early childhood classroom is an enormous undertaking, especially when starting from scratch. You must consider what type of furniture you want to fill your space, which manipulatives you need for each learning center, and how to arrange everything once it arrives.
If you are opening a new child care center or need to buy materials for a brand-new classroom and have no idea where to start, Kaplan Classroom Lists are here to help. This article shares more about these digital shopping resources and how you can use our lists to create fully functional classrooms that support child development and your center's specific needs.
What is a Kaplan Classroom List?
Knowing how overwhelming it can be to order furnishings and other supplies for a brand-new classroom or group of classrooms, we wanted to create a resource that would remove this burden from our customers' shoulders. Kaplan Classroom Lists are digital PDF documents that include a selection of furnishings and other materials for every area of your classroom, including learning centers, feeding and diapering spaces, entryways, reading nooks, and more.
In each List, you will also find a 3D rendering of the classroom environment to use as a visual aid when deciding which furniture collections and materials are best for your space.
Why would I use a Kaplan Classroom List?
There are many reasons to use Kaplan Classroom Lists when shopping for your early childhood classrooms. These lists include developmentally appropriate materials that meet licensing and state standards for classrooms serving children from birth to early elementary. For anyone who may not be sure what they need to fully supply their early childhood classroom, a Classroom List can serve as a good starting point.
Another reason to use our Classroom Lists is when you need a quick quote for bank loan approvals. It may be challenging for you to create a custom classroom quote yourself, and these lists will give you a ballpark figure to appease your lender.
Please note that all Classroom Lists are fully customizable, which you will learn about later in this article.
Who creates Kaplan Classroom Lists?
A team of Kaplan early learning experts used educational best practices, expert theory, and customer feedback to create each of our Classroom Lists. This team of individuals has firsthand experience working as early childhood educators and consistently communicating with classroom design experts. This team also stays current on educational theories and best practices so they can update our Classroom Lists as needed.
What types of Classroom Lists might you find on our website?
Every early childhood classroom is unique and can vary in size, shape, natural lighting sources, budget requirements, and more. When browsing through our selection of classroom lists, you can search through options based on furniture collections, age groups, and location. Here are some examples of the classroom lists you might find on our website:
Carolina Birch Classroom Lists
Combining durability and versatility, the Carolina Birch furniture collection creates classroom environments that foster developmental growth while ensuring high quality and safety standards. The Carolina Birch Classroom Lists feature items appropriate for infant, toddler, and early childhood classrooms.
Head Start and Early Head Start Classroom Lists
Another durable furniture option, the FSC-Certified Maple furniture collection, is perfect for early childhood educational environments. This Classroom List combines the Maple and Sense of Place collections with learning materials that will meet National Head Start and Early Head Start standards.
Sense of Place Classroom Lists
Thoughtfully designed to create a home-like environment, the Sense of Place collections feature a calming, nature-inspired palette that supports children at every stage of their growth and development. This Classroom List features items appropriate for infant, toddler, early childhood, and early elementary classrooms.
State-Based Classroom Lists
Because each state has its own standards and guidelines for appropriate early childhood classroom environments, our Kaplan Representatives created this list based on the state/s they represent. If you do not see your state’s list on our website, please reach out to your local Kaplan Representative.
Can I customize a Classroom List to better suit my needs?
Yes! You can add every item on a Classroom List to your shopping cart, check out, and then receive a shipment with everything you need to set up a classroom. Some of our competitors even offer this "classroom in a box" style of service. However, that is not our goal here at Kaplan.
We understand that every classroom is unique, and you need furnishings and materials that fit your space, your needs, and the developmental needs of the children in your care. Our pre-made Classroom Lists offer a great starting point for anyone wanting to furnish a classroom, but working with a Kaplan Representative will ensure you only order and receive items that you actually need.
For example, our Representatives might notice a sunny nook in one area of your classroom that would be a great spot to bring in STEM materials and furnishings that allow children to observe the outdoors. They might also see an alcove near your dramatic play center that would be the perfect spot to bring in a home-like piece of furniture like the Sense of Place fireplace.
Will the Kaplan Classroom Lists meet my state's standards and guidelines?
Yes! Before creating any Classroom List, we research ITERS, ECERS, and other early childhood licensing guidelines and rating score information to ensure we're supplying our customers with a shopping resource that appropriately aligns with their needs. Our Kaplan Representatives also stay current with their state's standards and guidelines regarding early childhood environments and help us update Classroom Lists as necessary.
Find a Kaplan Classroom List that fits your needs!
As you navigate through the Classroom Lists page on our website, choose a list that closely matches what you need for your classroom environment. Even if you do not need or want every item on the List you choose, add the items to your Kaplan cart by clicking the "Add to Cart" button at the bottom of the list page. Please note that this action does not create a purchase order; it only secures your items in a shopping cart for further customization.
You can adjust item quantities, furniture selections, manipulatives, and more with the items in your shopping cart. As always, our Kaplan Representatives are willing and happy to help you customize a classroom order that best suits your needs. You can share your shopping cart with your local representative, and they can make any cart customizations for you. With their help, you can focus less on shopping and more on the important work of nurturing the minds of young children.
Ready to explore our Kaplan Classroom Lists? Click here to get started. 
