Plans For The Facility
*Note: All children will receive a bag where they will receive information and other things when going from room to room so that companies can show you what they have to offer, and that you will know what companies donated to our center because they care about our community and the children. We hope that you will look to them when you need something so that it will help their company to grow as well.
MAIN FLOOR ROOMS AND DESCRIPTIONS
Overall – This is a center open to the whole community. We plan to have the special things that are made or bought with children who have special needs in mind. Any child can learn from them as they play; however, for those special children, it will challenge them to work on their fine and gross motor skills. We will have sections made up where they can go from one to another easily. Each section will have a theme where they can go from the doctor’s office to the post office, then visit the dentist, the grocery store, stop by the firehouse then go home to work on building an addition to their house with their carpenter tools and such. There will be clothes they can put on as they work their minds on creative play as they pretend to be what they want to be when they grow up. Other sections will have a huge ball pit to have fun inside, giant soft blocks to build into castles or such, slides of different sizes, tunnels, tumbling mats, and many more things to keep them busy! Upstairs has a huge place for the older children to play basketball, pool, tennis, air hockey, ping pong, arcade games and so much more. There is something for everyone! Finally, we will have activities going on where our volunteers will go around and invite everyone to come and join them, telling them where to go, what will be going on and what time it starts.
*NOTE: ALL ROOMS ARE FOR PRETEND PLAY AND MAY NOT HAVE A VOLUNTEER AVAILABLE TO PERFORM CERTAIN TASKS. THIS IS ONE REASON WHY WE ASK THAT EACH CHILD BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.
Secretary – Here you can stop by to receive a free map of our facility, schedule events such as a meeting, birthday parties, class tours or fun days, join memberships, set up childcare*, answer questions along with other various things.
Counter – Here you need to stop by to receive a stamp in order to go into our facility, sign in so we know you came to visit, pick up your mail and key for your child’s personal mailbox (if you are a member), pay for admission which will be various amounts depending on income but no more than $5 per adult for unlimited time of use. Also, no one will be denied access due to finances, as long as it is proven. The only way we deny access is if rules are not followed (a warning will be given twice unless the act is beyond a simple act that caused no harm. We will not permit teasing, hitting, or anything that will cause another child to feel insecure. Any child found to have caused injury (either mentally or physically) to another with purpose in mind and has no disability will be removed immediately and not invited back. We need to keep this center safe for all who come and expect total respect for everyone who attends. Children will also receive a bag that they will collect resources of companies that have shown us support so that you can thank them by visiting them or using their services, along with receiving small prizes before leaving.
Resource Area – Here you can stop by anytime, do not have to pay, for all materials in this section is free for anyone. It will hold brochures, business cards, flyers and other various things for you to be able to gain access to what is available within our community. There will also be a bulletin board for upcoming events and another bulletin board for anyone wishing to post a message of their own. We hope to be able to provide all information for parents to know what is happening in the community and also where to get any help they may need.
Doctor/ Hospital Area – This area is intended to help children not only improve on their imagination but to help children who may be nervous going to the doctor or the hospital. It will be set up where there is a receptionist area, doctor table with toy equipment, and next to that will be a hospital location. Due to not wanting injury, there will be no beds where children can fall and harm themselves. All beds will be air mattresses on the floor. We hope to have this as realistic as possible so the children can get a realistic feel of what it would be like.
Fire Station – This area will hold fire hats, costumes, and imaginary play for the children to have fun and see what it would be like to become a fireman. We also have books on what to do if there was a fire in your house for both typical families and families who have someone in their home that requires special needs. (Thanks to the Franklin Fire House for their donation.) We also will have a large stuffed Dalmatian dog for our mascot!
Dentist Office – This room will hold a chair and fake office tools for children to get used to what it is like to visit the dentist. We will also have stickers and little toys for them to receive when leaving! We are hoping to also receive donations for free toothpaste samples and toothbrushes for the children to place in their bags.
All Dunn Shopping – This will be the main store for Brianna’s Blessings. We will be providing things for special needs, such as sensory items, sign language materials and much more. Also, there will be other things to help parents shop for gifts such as clothing, candles, collectibles, Webkinz™, animals that you can stuff yourself, toys, cards, and more. This way if something should come up, or you need a birthday gift or whatever it is you are looking for, we hope to be able to provide it for you both at a cheaper rate and also as a way to help the parents / caregivers to not have to do too much traveling.
Sensory Area – This room will hold all kinds of sensory products such as textured blocks, soft toys, and so much more for the children to be able to experience different types of lights, sounds and feelings. On the walls will be various things for them to touch and feel, while leaving room on the floor for them to play with things that will not harm them. This will be located within the Baby / Toddler Area.
Baby / Toddler Area and Classes – This room will have a ball pit, tunnels, climbing devices and various things to keep even the most curious baby or toddler busy and learning. We will also be holding classes for Someone Special and Me (which will be like the Mommy and Me classes) to help parents and / or child providers to bond and have fun with their child in a structured yet fun way to help build motor skills, have fun learning with bubbles and such, dancing to music and more.
Bank – This room will represent a bank so that children who wish to learn how to save money, or parents wanting to teach their children how to handle money can go and have fun learning about savings accounts, checking accounts and more. We hope to have “pretend checks” for the kids to be able to write checks out to the other various places within our center and write it down inside their register to learn how to balance their checkbook. We will also have pretend money for transactions. Unless we have enough volunteers, it will be the parent or child care provider who will need to be the teller (or an older sibling or child).
Post Office – This room will represent the Post Office located in Chambersburg. We also hope that we will be able to receive a real mailbox for parents to be able to mail their real mail, along with a weighing machine for postage (additional postage can be purchased at the Counter or from the Secretary. A table, paper, envelopes and writing tools will also be available to encourage children to write a letter to a family member or friend. Finally, we hope to have a newspaper stand so parents can also get the local news if they do not receive the paper at home.
Work Stations – This area is mainly intended for those who require special needs but all children are welcome to use it. Here there will be small desks that provide different things for the children to work on as a one on one basis. Things such as puzzles, various motor development toys, flash cards, sorting shapes, working on numbers and the alphabet, sounding out letters and phonics plus more.
Grocery Store – This room will represent a small version of a grocery store where there will be aisles of pretend food, small carts for the kids to go shopping, a table area for the cashier where the kids can use their pretend money or checkbook. A great way to help them learn that things cost money and to be careful of how much they spend.
Vet – This room will represent going to the vet. Children will find a room filled with stuffed animals to pretend they are the doctor taking care of them or to be a patient bringing in their pet for a check up or to help their animal get better.
Restaurant– This room will have a cooking area with pretend food and cooking supplies, tables and chairs, and menus from places that have helped us. Children can pretend to be a cook, waiter or waitress or the person that came to eat. They can choose to be dining in a fancy restaurant and be a “big person” or to eat fast food. They make the choice!
Ice Cream Shop – This room will have an area for kids to make the ice cream out of pretend food, take orders, or be the lucky one to place the order and enjoy some ice cream. There will also be menus from various locations such as Brusters, along with tables and chairs so they can enjoy a delicious treat.
School Room – This room will represent a classroom with a chalkboard and all! It seems kids never grow tired of drawing on a chalkboard. A teacher’s desk and a few student desks will be available for them to pretend they are at school. This will be great for children that are about to start school. We will also hold some books and other things for them to learn while playing.
Construction Area – This room will be for the busy kids who love to build. There will be large foam blocks, large legos and other things to help encourage their imaginations to go wild.
Home Setting – This room will be like a house for the children to play whatever family member role that they wish. We plan to have all the rooms that a house would have including a baby doll and a baby’s room with all of the things the baby would need. It will have a kitchen (for the groceries they buy), living room, bedroom, and the baby’s room.
Police Station / Jail – This room will be set up like a police station where the children will have fun making up a badge and going out to get the “bad guys” so they can put them in jail. Also, we hope to encourage them to know that the police are there to help people in other ways than just getting a “bad guy” or car chasing and shooting. We will have a list of things that police do so they can learn more about 911 calls, helping people find children, helping families to stay safe and more.
Breastfeeding Area – This room will be private for mothers to be able to sit down on a rocker or couch so they can be comfortable while feeding their baby. There will be a small division with a two way mirror so that their toddlers can play while the mother keeps an eye on them yet they can not see the mothers. There will also be a changing area so the mothers do not have to leave the room to change their baby.
Baby changing Area – This room will be for those who do not breastfeed. It will have two changing tables and even a curtain should you want privacy. Fathers, Mothers, anyone can enter this room.
Private Therapy Room – This room will be for ONLY those who need the services. Since the equipment is expensive and we don’t want anyone hurt, there will be a sign in sheet and EACH child MUST have an adult with them at ALL times. We wish to have balance beams, a treadmill, weights, weighted balls, weighted vests, sensory items, developmental items and other things to help the children to reach their milestones. We ask that you discuss with your therapist first what would be good for you to help your child with each week and how many times so that you do not over stimulate your child. which can reverse the progress that your therapist is working on.
Open Area – This area is intended for free play and a place where parents can sit down on sofas or chairs to relax and communicate with one another. If your child does not like a crowded area or you wish to work one on one and an area is used, you are welcome to grab what you need and work with your child in this section. This is placed in the center of the whole floor so parents can keep an eye on all areas should another child be moving around. All we ask (and have as a rule) is that if your child has a special need, then you MUST stay with that child at all times. Other children may be in another area as long as you keep an eye on them. We will not be responsible for each child. There will be volunteers walking around to help and assist, however; should you wish for one of the volunteers to watch over your child, we ask that you offer a donation to them for their time and service and that you tell them where you will be so they can go to you should anything happen or the child wants you.
Product Room - This room will have various products and equipment. It is for people who have special needs children that either grow out of or can no longer use the product or equipment can come in to trade or purchase. Hopefully, this will help with their personal finances. You must see Management in order to access this room.
Consignment Store – This is not yet set in stone, however; there is a person who wishes to open up a consignment store within our building. She has been in business for over 9 years and has so much to offer. More information will be available once we have a lease agreement signed.
CEO / PRESIDENT Office– This room is intended for the President of Brianna’s Blessings. The President / CEO will be on the first floor and the Vice President on the second floor so we can service your needs as best as possible.
UPPER FLOOR ROOMS AND DESCRIPTIONS
Meeting Room – Here we will allow anyone that is in need of a place and a space to schedule a meeting, class or show. Prices will vary depending upon if it is for non profit or profit. We will have the list of prices available once the center opens.
Teaching Room – Here we will be teaching Sign Language Classes, Spanish Classes and Workshops for all children and adults. These will take place in the Meeting Room when it is not in use. Schedules will be available by the time the center opens, along with the price listing.
Party Room – This will be a room set aside for people to schedule a party, no matter the reason. Different types of party packages will be available to choose from to help make their celebration one that all will enjoy and never forget!
Lunch Room – This is also the Party Room where people can go to have a lunch if staying for the day. It will have a refrigerator (and can be used for anyone to hold their formula or whatever inside, a stove, microwave and water fountain. If a party is taking place and you need something, we will be having a practitioner up so not to disturb anyone.
Library – For those that just want some peace and quiet, or work on homework, here is the perfect room for them! Filled with books and magazines they can enjoy reading to having a table where they can quietly play cards with a friend or work on a puzzle. If not used much, a TV may be placed in here where educational and children’s videos will be available.
Art and Craft Room – Here is a room that children can show off their talents as the walls are decorated by young artist drawings! They will be able to color, paint, sculpt, or create whatever their minds can dream up!
Shadow Room – Here we will be having a room with that children will not want to leave! By using a black light the children run around the room and position themselves against the wall, when the black light goes off and the light comes on, the kids go to the center to look at their shadows that remained on the walls! Kids will want to do this over and over again and laugh at the effects that they leave behind!
Music Room – Here is a room that children can show off their musical talents with all of the instruments provided for them. Songs will also be available should they wish to dance sing instead.
Break Room – This room is intended for employees and volunteers to take their breaks.
Arcade Room – This room will hold all kinds of arcade games to play. A list of top players will be posted and weekly prizes will be given out.
Game Room – Here is a room that anyone can go into, but will have the siblings who have a brother or sister that requires special needs in mind. Here we will be having all kinds of games and other things that they will enjoy playing while their brother or sister are working on their milestones. This room will have basketball hoops, pool tables, ping pong tables, air hockey tables and much more! A place where they can have fun, bond with other kids who understand what life is like with a brother or sister with special needs and no longer feel neglected or forgotten within the family. We hope to also add a bowling alley once the funds are available.
Mailboxes (lockers) – This room will serve two purposes. One is that on the right side will be for employees and volunteers to use the lockers to keep their things. The second is the lockers located in the main area of this room will become “mailboxes” for children who are members. We will be asking people such as the retirement homes, girl scouts and anyone wishing to help, to make small crafts or write letters for the children. We plan to have something in their mailboxes each day so that when they arrive, they get their key and find out what is in there for them. They can also use this for their locker.
Other Rooms – The other rooms will be offices for employees and or Board Members (shown later), where you are welcome to ask them for assistance if all of the volunteers are busy and you need help or a question answered. We set them upstairs for the main reason that we felt it necessary to have more adults upstairs due to those being upstairs will mainly be the older children and we want to be certain that no trouble will come about without staff members being able to attend to the situation.
VP Office– This room is intended for the Vice President of Brianna’s Blessings. The President / CEO will be on the first floor and the Vice President on the second floor so we can service your needs as best as possible.
Future Plans For Brianna’s Blessings
As Brianna’s Blessings grows, we hope to expand in about 5 to 10 years and be able to offer more to families. The more we have available the better the chances are that the children will be motivated and want to work harder to reach higher milestones.
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