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To understand the role of the teacher/caregiver in creating an environment for infants and toddlers that is safe, and fosters their motor skills, cognitive development, and social/emotional growth. When we talk about the infant and toddler environment, we define it as a space that is appropriately equipped to meet the needs of the children.
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The environment should be highly functional, attractive, and age appropriate. It should also allow for appropriate movement, such as crawling, climbing, running, and jumping.
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Example
Eighteen-month-old Carter throws toys. Every day Carter goes to the same activity centers and starts to dump and throw toys. Carter wanders aimlessly around the classroom and seems to be bored. Carter’s teachers are changing the diapers of the
children in the classroom and shouting across the room, “Stop Carter!” Carter then bites Teddy. Teddy starts screaming, and then Carter starts screaming.
This is common in an infant/toddler classroom. Carter seems to need more stimulation and some one-on-one supervision. The environment in his classroom may need some changes. Perhaps the providers could rotate changing diapers and give more individual attention to the children in the classroom.
children in the classroom and shouting across the room, “Stop Carter!” Carter then bites Teddy. Teddy starts screaming, and then Carter starts screaming.
This is common in an infant/toddler classroom. Carter seems to need more stimulation and some one-on-one supervision. The environment in his classroom may need some changes. Perhaps the providers could rotate changing diapers and give more individual attention to the children in the classroom.
Now, let’s look at why it is important to set up an appropriate environment in an infant/toddler classroom.
Setting the Stage for Success
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The environment directly affects caregiver/child relationships, and relationships between the children in the group. A well-designed infant/toddler environment will allow meaningful relationships to develop and set the stage for success in the classroom.
Several factors that contribute to a positive, nurturing infant/toddler environment include group size, materials, room size, flooring, lighting, color, and ease of supervision. It is very important that the infants and toddlers in your care receive individualized, responsive, and respectful care. Smaller groups allow for fewer distractions and focused activities. In small groups, infants and toddlers are able to make connections, form relationships, and interact with their peers. |
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Children that are in group care environments need space to move, grow, and learn. As the number of infants and toddlers in the group goes up, so does the noise level, stimulation, and general confusion. Children need enough room to express their own independence. If that space is compromised or taken away there tends to be several problems including wandering, biting, and unhappy children. Check with your local licensing agency regarding the recommended space requirements for infants and toddlers in your center or family home child care. The infant/toddler room should contain age-appropriate materials. All toys should be in working condition, and there should be enough toys for all of the children in the group. A lack of materials can lead to frustration and too many toys can be overwhelming. Keep a wide variety of materials in a closet or in storage so they can be rotated through the classroom.
Many infants and toddlers spend much of their time on the floor. An ideal infant/toddler classroom floor would be mostly carpeted, with the exception of eating and diapering areas. If carpeting is not available, a good substitute is nonskid area rugs. The room should be filled with large, soft, washable pillows and washable plush toys. A great way to keep the floor clean in the room is to have a “no adult shoes” policy in the room. This will cut down on the amount of outside dirt on the floor where the children spend most of their time.
The right amount of lighting contributes to visual development in infants and toddlers. The ideal lighting for childcare settings is incandescent rather than fluorescent lighting. The colors used for the walls in infant/toddler rooms should be neutral soothing colors, as bright colors can be overstimulating to young children
The environment should allow caregivers to supervise all of the children from anywhere in the classroom or home. This can be done by strategically placing activity centers around the classroom so you are able to see all the children all of the time.
Many infants and toddlers spend much of their time on the floor. An ideal infant/toddler classroom floor would be mostly carpeted, with the exception of eating and diapering areas. If carpeting is not available, a good substitute is nonskid area rugs. The room should be filled with large, soft, washable pillows and washable plush toys. A great way to keep the floor clean in the room is to have a “no adult shoes” policy in the room. This will cut down on the amount of outside dirt on the floor where the children spend most of their time.
The right amount of lighting contributes to visual development in infants and toddlers. The ideal lighting for childcare settings is incandescent rather than fluorescent lighting. The colors used for the walls in infant/toddler rooms should be neutral soothing colors, as bright colors can be overstimulating to young children
The environment should allow caregivers to supervise all of the children from anywhere in the classroom or home. This can be done by strategically placing activity centers around the classroom so you are able to see all the children all of the time.
Examples of Activities that Encourage Infants and Toddlers to Explore Their Environment
When the optimal classroom environment is achieved, use the following examples to encourage the children in your care to explore the classroom.
- Place several new toys strategically around the room. Encourage the children to try to find the new toys.
- Offer small and large pushing toys where appropriate.
- Make a pillow obstacle course for children that are crawling and walking.
- Place an unbreakable mirror on the wall and show the children their reflections.
- Hide a plush animal or ball in the room and help the children find it.
- Place a pile of sturdy, washable board books in the middle of the classroom floor and allow the children to choose their own books. Read to the children individually.
- Set up a cozy area where the children can rest if they become tired
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Successful Solutions Training in Child Development
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Copyright 2019. Successful Solutions Professional Development LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Student support 7 days a week, including most holidays!
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