Guidelines are provided for creating learning environments for children centers. The guide can be used for the creation of either new centers, the re-design of existing centers, or when remodeling existing buildings. Each of the activity areas that may be contained in a children center is described in terms of their objectives, design requirements, participants, and the molecular activities engaged in by children. The molecular activities describe what the expected range of behaviors might be in the activity areas. Diagrams are used to illustrate, but not determine, the way in which the activity areas should be organized. An activity factor evaluation chart and advice on playground planning conclude the document. (Contains 71 references.) (GR)