The Where of Early Childhood Education The Physical Environment

Objectives The physical environment affects both children and adults Understand the importance of the indoor environment with focus on how to use it most effectively to support the development of young children Understand the importance of the outdoor environment and how to maximize its potential Understand how to adapt the environment meet the requirements of children with special needs Learn hoe to select developmentally appropriate equipment and materials for use in the ECE program

The physical environment affects both children and adults

Understand the importance of the indoor environment with focus on how to use it most effectively to support the development of young children

Understand the importance of the outdoor environment and how to maximize its potential

Understand how to adapt the environment meet the requirements of children with special needs

Learn hoe to select developmentally appropriate equipment and materials for use in the ECE program

Effects of the Physical Environment “ Arrangement, organization, size, density, noise level, even the color of the classroom directly and indirectly invite a range of behaviors from teachers and children.” Effects on children Classroom environment should support the development of children-what does this mean? Effects on teachers 4 categories of space Personal belongings, preparation and planning areas, paperwork storage, communication centers

“ Arrangement, organization, size, density, noise level, even the color of the classroom directly and indirectly invite a range of behaviors from teachers and children.”

Effects on children

Classroom environment should support the development of children-what does this mean?

Effects on teachers

4 categories of space

Personal belongings, preparation and planning areas, paperwork storage, communication centers

The Indoor Environment Fixed features Room size, square footage per child, shape of the room, lighting, building materials, etc. Movable features Convey purposes of space, limits on behavior, establish boundaries, encourage quiet or active areas Learning centers Combining materials and equipment around common interest areas Safety Infants and Toddlers How would this space be arranged differently?

Fixed features

Room size, square footage per child, shape of the room, lighting, building materials, etc.

Movable features

Convey purposes of space, limits on behavior, establish boundaries, encourage quiet or active areas

Learning centers

Combining materials and equipment around common interest areas

Safety

Infants and Toddlers

How would this space be arranged differently?

Arranging the Outdoor Environment Fixed outdoor play structures Creative playgrounds Adventure playgrounds Flexible outdoor play components Adapting the environment

Fixed outdoor play structures

Creative playgrounds

Adventure playgrounds

Flexible outdoor play components

Adapting the environment

Developmentally Appropriate Equipment Criteria Does it support the program’s philosophy? Is the equipment appropriately sized? Is it safe? Is it durable? Is there room for it? Can it be constructed rather than purchased? Is it aesthetically pleasing? Is it easy to clean and maintain?

Criteria

Does it support the program’s philosophy?

Is the equipment appropriately sized?

Is it safe?

Is it durable?

Is there room for it?

Can it be constructed rather than purchased?

Is it aesthetically pleasing?

Is it easy to clean and maintain?

Developmentally Appropriate Materials Criteria Are the materials developmentally appropriate? Are the materials active? Are the materials open-ended? Do the materials give feedback? Do the materials lend themselves to many possibilities? Are they safe and durable? Are they attractive? Are they non-0sexist and non-racial? Do you have a wide variety? Do you have duplicates?

Criteria

Are the materials developmentally appropriate?

Are the materials active?

Are the materials open-ended?

Do the materials give feedback?

Do the materials lend themselves to many possibilities?

Are they safe and durable?

Are they attractive?

Are they non-0sexist and non-racial?

Do you have a wide variety?

Do you have duplicates?

Teacher-Made The best toys are not always store bought Dramatic play kits Let’s play store Let’s play house Let’s play we’re going on a trip in our car Let’s play we are fishing Let’s play we are kings and queens in our own castle

The best toys are not always store bought

Dramatic play kits

Let’s play store

Let’s play house

Let’s play we’re going on a trip in our car

Let’s play we are fishing

Let’s play we are kings and queens in our own castle

Helpful Resources and Web Sites Quality in child Care Setting Learning centers

Quality in child Care Setting

Learning centers