Close your eyes and imagine yourself in the following environments: bustling through a busy mall, a eating at a noisy restaurant, or a sitting on a dock on a lake. How would each environment make you feel?
A pleasant environment is important to how we feel at work and play. As adults we can choose to change or leave our environment if it is not conducive to our activities. Children don’t have the choice to leave or make changes to their environment if it does not meet their needs or is undesirable.
Teachers must realize that arraigning their classroom will subliminally affect a child’s learning. Teachers must consider two features of every classroom – the built-in features such as walls, floors, plumbing, storage, lighting; and the flexible features such as furniture, equipment, activity areas, toys, and other educational tools.
Developmental Stages and their Respective Environments
What children need from the environment depends on their age and stage of development. Non-mobile infants need floor space for crawling. Teachers need to bring interesting items to infants, or walk children around the classroom. Toys should be brought from selves to the floor when infants are on the floor. Since security is a major issue for infants, a caring caregiver should always be nearby.
Infants and their Environment
Mobile infants and busy toddlers, who are in the exploration stage of development, need a lot of safe, open space to walk and move around. To foster independence, toddlers need to have the ability to make choices. Storing interesting toys on low open shelves will encourage exploration and help toddlers learn to make choices. The room should have enough toys and equipment to stimulate gross motor and fine motor development. Teachers need to be aware that social skills are not quite developed at this stage so many toys should be duplicated to avoid fighting.
Preschoolers and their Environment
For preschoolers, learning occurs when children can play in defined interest areas or learning centers during large uninterrupted blocks of time. Preschoolers are curious learners, they are learning about how their world works through experimenting and asking questions. There should be a wide variety of toys and materials to stimulate experimenting, creativity, and role playing. Preschoolers enjoy caring for living things such as pets and plants.
Many early childhood teachers are frustrated when dealing with children with challenging behaviors. Creating a calm environment will help reduce these behaviors. Small class size and low adult-child ratio will ensure adequate supervision. Natural lighting, soft artificial lights and colors will have a calming effect on children.
When teachers take the time to consider children’s needs before designing or changing their classroom environments, they will promote children’s learning and development.
About the Author: Lauren Drakes, MS, is an Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator at Rasmussen College-School of Education. She heads the Early Childhood Education degree program at Rasmussen College in Pasco County, FL. Lauren has been in the field of early childhood education for more than 20 years. Her work experience includes teaching at an elementary school level, training early childhood program directors and caregivers, providing accreditation consulting, teaching the national Child Development Associate courses and Florida state administrator credential course. Lauren received her BA in Psychology from City College of the City University of New York and her MS in Early Childhood Education Administration from Nova Southeastern University.
Comments (12)
Classroom environment for for pre-school children - Barry Agostini
Arresting and pertinent introduction for adults followed by step-by-step instructions for safe environment conducive to learning for infants and toddlers.
Conclusion conclusion contains both result and reason for mission statement. Excellent.
- Living Rooms Furniture
That's kind of environment is boost children for therir mentally exercise be held, that really great blog i really like this blog grat one:-)
Subject - deni
Good post, I strongly agree that the environment will affect the development and characteristics of children.
school environmet - martin
Good point. I've read research that even the color of the walls will influence the results of children in schools.
good info - antonio
I am agree with that really if we hope our childrens sane, we have to take care of the enviroment where they grow up in.
Plants and Animals - Earthworms
I have always thought that plants and a pet in a classroom environment is beneficial especially for younger children. I am currently setting up a small earthworm farm at my sons preschool and the kids enthusiasm is overwhelming.
Awesome! - Marc Azada
I absolutely agree with you. Creating a Space for Children is very essential because it help kids to be more independent. Thanks for sharing your knowledge about this issue. Good Job!
Subject - Marc Azada
Children always must have the space they need to learn effectively. They must feel the comfort and effectiveness of teaching at their range.
Children - Interior FUrniture
Many early childhood teachers are frustrated when dealing with children with challenging behaviors. Creating a calm environment will help reduce these behaviors
Creative fun learning environments - Learning SPACE
Another great blog provided by Rasmussen. As a teacher I have seem the importance of providing a stimulating, educational, learning environment. www.learningspaceni.co.uk
Good article - Thiet ke noi that
Thanks for sharing. The environment will affect a lot the development and characteristics of children.
Subject - plumber
A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping systems, plumbing fixtures and equipment such as water heaters.So those person must have enough knowledge about this subject.I was fully ignore this topic before read the topic. So many many thanks to you for shearing.
Akther
