The setup of your childcare environment is as important as the care you provide. Child-sized furnishings and materials allow children to feel more independent and capable. Store your manipulatives, toys, and materials where the children can reach them. Children should be able to wash their hands in a sink that is at their level.
Provide child-sized tables and chairs where their feet will touch the floor. These factors all help children feel a sense of autonomy. Make sure your environment has a few spaces where adults can interact with children by having furnishings both adult and child-sized.
Take consideration in the flow of your environment. Provide an entryway where children can transition when they arrive, say goodbye to their parents, and then join the group at child care. Long, straight hallways need attractive features that Encourage exploration, or else they may encourage quicker movement, so use interesting lighting, wall displays, and floor coverings to slow down traffic. The arrangement of your room can make all the difference in your early learning environment.
Provide well-defined areas for different activities with identifiable boundaries. you Maintain order in the areas where materials are stored for different activities by adding labels to the storage units. Develop your learning centers, a science exploration center, a dramatic play corner, sensory exploration, and a quiet reading area.
When areas are well defined, children know what is expected of them in the area and how to use it appropriately. Also provide individual spaces for each child, such as personal coveys, so they have a sense of belonging at childcare. Try to make your environment flexible so it can be transformed as children's needs change.
Add different levels, angles, and heights to the environment to add interest. Provide open-ended materials that allow children to invent and explore. Try adding unusual items that will spark the children's exploration and curiosity. A mix of natural and artificial light helps create a variety of learning spaces.
Use shades to manage the intensity of natural light. Provide lighting that is appropriate for the task. Remember that mirrors reflect light and dark colors absorb light.
Changing the interior color of your child care facility is an easy and inexpensive way to make a big change to the environment. Bright accent walls or patterns attract children to spaces, but remember that light colors can make a space feel larger, while darker colors can make it feel smaller. Curtains, fabrics, pillows, and furniture can all be used to add color without changing the wall color. Get inspired, but be thoughtful when you add color, because too much can be overwhelming or disorienting for children.
Texture in an environment can capture a child's interest. Use fabric, furnishings, and materials to provide different textures. Though textures can be felt, they can also be seen through patterns on the wall, ceiling, or floor. Bring in natural objects to add texture, such as stones or grass.
Soft spaces that allow children to unwind and relax are important in your early learning environment. Use comfortable furniture, pillows, books, and quiet activities to create a getaway. Evaluate your child care facility and try some of these simple and effective strategies to transform your program into a quality early learning environment.