-This article was written by Rebecca Calbert. 

Rebecca is a licensed architect with over 30 years of experience.  She owns and operates an architectural firm, Calbert Design Group,  and educates her clients through the commercial real estate development process with online content at SaveOnBuilding.com.  Rebecca’s “purpose” is to educate small business owners and protect them from what they don’t know.

Creating a Home Away from Home: Key Principles for Designing Child Care Centers that Nurture and Inspire

Imagine stepping into a room filled with the sound of toddlers giggling, plastic toys clattering, and the soft hum of lullabies playing in the background. The scent of freshly baked cookies might float through the air, and there’s sunlight streaming through the windows, painting the room in warm golden hues. It’s the type of environment where little ones feel safe, loved, and, most importantly, at home. Now, imagine that you are the architect behind it all.

If you’re about to embark on the journey of designing a child care center, you’re not alone. These projects are popping up everywhere—from bustling downtown office buildings to university campuses that are looking to ease the stress of working parents. In fact, universities across the country are diving into this type of construction as part of their family-support programs, making it an exciting new frontier for designers and developers alike. But here’s the catch: designing for children isn’t just about making a space that looks cute. It’s about meeting stringent codes and standards, all while crafting an environment that is both physically and emotionally supportive for children. And—spoiler alert—designing for children is not the same as designing for adults (no, really, it’s not just miniaturizing the furniture!).

So, where do you begin? How do you make sure that your child care center doesn’t just meet regulations, but also feels like a sanctuary for the little humans who will spend their days there? Here are four key principles that will guide you on your way.

1. Your Child Care Center Should Feel Like Home

Think back to when you were five years old. What made you feel safe? Was it your favorite blanket, or perhaps the smell of your mom’s perfume lingering in the air? For young children, the world can feel like a confusing, overwhelming place, especially when they are separated from their parents. That’s why the first rule of child care center design is to make the space feel as home-like as possible.

But how exactly do you do that? It’s all about warmth—both literally and figuratively. The color palette should evoke feelings of comfort. Warm tones—think soft yellows, pastel pinks, or gentle greens—can do wonders for a child’s sense of security. Natural light? Yes, please. There’s something about sunlight that brightens not just a room, but a child’s mood.

And here’s a little bonus tip: leave one section of a wall blank, ready to be filled with the first group of children’s artwork. Let them make their mark on the space, and watch as it instantly becomes more personal, more welcoming, and more theirs.

2. Ensure Safety for All

Here’s a fun fact: toddlers are like mini-parkour athletes. They can—and will—climb, jump, and sprint in directions you never imagined. Safety, therefore, is not just a feature—it’s a necessity. In fact, it might just be your top priority (right after making sure there’s enough goldfish crackers for snack time).

When designing for young children, every nook and cranny must be considered through the lens of “What could go wrong here?” Tall counters? Potential hazard. Wobbly furniture? Absolutely not. Steps and sharp corners? Big no. Every surface needs to be soft, secure, and stable. Cupboards and drawers must be firmly anchored to the walls to prevent toppling.

Oh, and don’t forget those child-proof gates. These are not just barriers; they’re guardians of adventure-seeking little ones, keeping them safe in their designated areas. Even within the room, think about how you can arrange the space so that there’s a designated area where they can stretch their legs and run around—because let’s be honest, kids will always find a way to run.

3. Don’t Forget That It’s a Space for Children

This might sound like common sense, but it’s a detail that often gets overlooked: children are small. Very small. You don’t design a space for children the way you would for adults, simply scaled down. You design it for children, at their level.

For example, bathroom sinks shouldn’t require a gymnastics routine to access. Build them low enough that kids can reach them without risking a tumble from a step stool. And when it comes to doors and gates, only put low handles on the ones you actually want kids to use. It’s like creating a puzzle, where the clues are in the design itself.

Here’s a little piece of wisdom you might not have thought of: don’t use pre-mixed water for faucets. Instead, separate hot and cold levers help children learn—albeit slowly—how to navigate daily life skills. Yes, it might seem like a small thing, but those little learning moments add up. After all, isn’t childhood about mastering the art of discovery?

4. Adult-Only Storage: Lock it Tight

Of course, while children’s needs are at the forefront, we can’t forget the adults who run the show. Teachers and staff need their own spaces to keep personal belongings and essential supplies—out of reach of curious little hands. This is where adult-only storage comes into play, and it should be securely locked at all times.

Think of these spaces as behind-the-scenes magic cupboards. They hold everything from cleaning supplies to art materials (because while glitter might be fun, it’s also the enemy of every teacher’s sanity). Keep these items out of sight, out of mind, and most importantly, out of the reach of wandering fingers. Kitchens, laundry rooms, and utility areas? Lock those doors, even when in use. A child slipping into a utility closet might sound like the beginning of a Pixar movie, but in real life, it’s a situation you definitely want to avoid.

5. Need More Advice Before Construction?

Here’s the thing about child care center design: it’s not a one-size-fits-all process. Each space, each community, and each group of children will have its own unique needs. If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed—or just want a more structured approach—don’t worry, there’s a roadmap. Our comprehensive nine-step process walks you through everything from designing and financing the project to the nitty-gritty of construction and licensing.

In the end, designing a child care center isn’t just about meeting regulations or ensuring safety (although those are important). It’s about creating a place where children can thrive, grow, and—most importantly—feel like they belong. It’s about building a second home, where every small detail is a step toward making a child’s world a little bit brighter, a little bit safer, and a lot more fun.