Studying an Early Childhood Environment for Children Birth to Two Years Old

Studying an Early Childhood Environment for Children Birth to Two Years Old

Introduction

Today’s young children are spending a large number of hours in a child care setting. Given that massive amount of time, it is essential that we strive to make it the “best” place possible for children (Isbell, 2007).

Researches have shown that the quality of preschool education is partly related to the quality of the planned and designed physical environment (Harrison, 1990; Moore, 2002). Hence, the question of providing quality care turns into how to plan and provide quality environment to children (Harrison, 1990). According to Greenman (1988: 53), the important and indispensable role that environment plays in providing quality child care is described as follows:

A well-planned environment can offer two essential contributions to quality care. First, it can provide children with appropriate and challenging learning experiences within a consistent and secure setting. Second, it allows staff greater opportunity to become involved in meaningful, intimate interactions with children by reducing the time required for organising and reorganising the furniture, the room and the equipment.

In this article, I look into the question of how to create a comfortable educational environment which is optimal for infants and toddlers’ learning and development by analysing the setting of a Toddler Room in a child care centre where I worked. After thorough study, I am able to provide a plan to redesign the room, which I believe, would better suit young children’s special needs and their unique ways of learning, so as to benefit their future development in the long run.

Description of the Layout of the Toddler Room

The Toddler Room is designed for children under three years old. It is located at the very front of the centre. The physical layout of the room is depicted in Appendix 1. The Toddler Room shares one kitchenette, one storeroom and one change room with the Middle Room...