Every classroom and school philosophy is different, but I have grown to really appreciate the way that ours operates. When you drop your kids off in the morning, they have the option of several different stations throughout the small room. There's an easel with open jars of paint, a table with homemade play dough, an "imaginative play" area with baby dolls, a play kitchen, a little library, building toys, etc. The children (all 2ish) enter the room with immediate purpose and calm knowing just where they want to go and what to do.
I've attempted to transfer this line of thinking to our home, instead of suggesting (and probably overwhelming him with) myriad activities the second we walk into the door.
