The document discusses the importance of developmentally appropriate physical environments and sensory stimulation for infants, toddlers, and young children. It outlines several key theories that inform the design of early childhood classrooms, including Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory, Piaget's constructivist theory, and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Well-designed classrooms that consider these theories are characterized by order, social interaction, choice, and active learning. They provide benefits like lower stress, better behavior and learning. Poorly designed rooms can have negative effects. The document provides guidelines for creating developmentally appropriate room designs.

1. CHAPTER 4:
Supportive Physical
Environments: Indirect Guidance
Guidance of Young Children
Ninth Edition
Marian Marion
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-2
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
AND SENSORY STIMULATION
FOR INFANTS AND
TODDLERS

3. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-3
Room Design for Infants and
Toddlers: Essential Ideas
 Should meet the child’s physical and
social/emotional needs
 Cleanliness is essential
 Spacious bathing and dressing areas
 Inspires pushing, pulling, rolling, emptying, and
filling safe, clean toys; and climbing on safe
structures
 Encourages children to gaze at objects at their
level and to do messy, active things such as
finger painting

4. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-4
Why is Sensory Stimulation
Important in Infant Development?
 A powerful avenue for infant toddler development
 Infants can coordinate information from different
senses
 Sensory stimulation benefits infant sensory
coordination and brain development
 Helps meet emotional and social needs

5. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-5
Theoretical Foundations for
Early Childhood Classroom
Design

6. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-6
Theoretical Foundations for Early
Childhood Classroom Design
 Theories focusing on the systems in which
children develop: Brofenbrenner’s theory on the
ecology of human development
 Theories focusing on how children construct
knowledge: Dewey, Piaget, and Vygotsky’s theories
on knowledge construction
 Theories focusing on psychological and
emotional needs: Erikson’s theory on psychosocial
development and Maslow’s hierarchy of human
needs

7. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-7
Developmentally Appropriate
Physical Environments for 3-
to 8-Year-Olds

8. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-8
ECE Classroom Designs based on
ECE Theory are Characterized by
the Following:
 Sense of order: Well arranged, tidy, and
organized rooms convey order and comfort
 Social interaction: Set up to promote
interaction among children
 Making choices: Set up so that children can
learn and practice how to make wise
choices
 Active learning: Encourages active learning

9. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-9
Benefits of Well-Designed
Spaces for Children
 Lower levels of stress
 Fewer discipline problems
 More positive interaction among children
 Helps children feel independent and self-
controlled
 Meets higher-order needs in Maslow’s hierarchy
 Develop better decision making
 Better ability to initiate and engage in
sophisticated dramatic play

10. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-10
Effects of Poorly Designed
Rooms
 Communicates expectations of failure and lack of
respect
 Contributes to poor academic achievement and
behavior problems
 Higher levels of stress

11. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-11
Guidelines: Developmentally
Appropriate Room Design

12. Marion. Guidance of Young Children, 9e.
© 2015, 2011, 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
4-12
Guidelines for Developmentally
Appropriate Rooms
Organize the classroom into activity areas
Arrange activity areas logically
Create attractive and sensory-rich areas
Use a variety of indirect strategies to make it easier
for children to work and play in the classroom