It is important to set up indoor and outdoor environments in early childhood services so that children have choices of activities and can help themselves, without always needing adults to do things for them.
If an environment is not set up properly, you end up with children bunching up near adults, always wanting their attention and not being independent.
Early Childhood Programs should be based on setting rather than activities.
You plan the space so the children can move from “learning centre” to “learning centre” according to their interest and also move things from one space to another to create their own experiences. This way “activities” can happen anywhere. Eg: you don’t have to have storytime on the mat all the time. You could have it in a cubby or outside. See the Loose Parts Blog Post on how materials can be used flexibly.
Here are some key things good learning centres/play spaces should have:
Child size - make a space and drop the roof lower, have little tables and little chairs, think about how many toddlers like to stand up and lie down when playing rather than sitting on a chair.
Open Storage – (see above) so children can help themselves to materials and learn to pack away easily as well. This helps to minimise children’s frustration and shows respect for their independence.
Good boundaries between spaces – this helps children have to make a decision to enter the space and also helps them to stay in the space for longer which leads to richer learning opportunities
Rotation – keep the spaces fresh and change them up to keep up with the children’s interests
Home Like – the environment should reflect the lives of the children, their families and the local community. It should feel like home with furniture, photos, real life equipment, natural materials.
TASK: See Think Wonder - What do you see in this picture? What do you think the couch could be used for? What do you wonder about how this environment has been set up?
Comments