After a full day in school, attention span is waning. Children need a variety of hands-on activities to reduce boredom. School-age children also want to be able to move easily from one activity to another. Now add another challenge.
Parents arrive at different times to pick children up at the end of the day.
Learning centers are especially appropriate for school-age children. They allow children to work at the level that is right for them. They encourage independence and autonomy in children. They are compatible with older children's more advanced abilities and their strong desire to plan and direct their own learning. They also allow for the wide variation in interests among school-age children.