Considerations Of A Quality Environment

Considerations Of A Quality EnvironmentThere are 8 specific considerations that need to be addressed when deciding if the physical environment supports high quality care. They are the following:Safety
Health
Comfort
Convenience
Child-Sized
Flexibility
Movement
Choice
Review the Infant and Toddler Space for more detailed information.Infant and Toddler Space.pdfFor this assignment, you will need to either visit a child care program (center based or family child care home) in your area or do an internet search for video’s that shows infant toddler spaces. Using the form provided, you will assess the environment based on the 8 considerations of a quality environment. There is no expectation that you will see all the elements listed on the form. The information is provided for your guidance as you review the environment.High Quality Infant Toddler Environments Observation Form.docxSubmit your form fully filled out with your additions and comments about the environment that you reviewed. Please also include a reflection of at least 1 page that includes your thoughts about the environment that you assessed.Consider the following:How did you feel in the environment or how do you think the environment might feel?
Were there elements that you noticed that were completely missing and what, if any, impact do you think there was?
Do you think that the environment would support the specific needs of infants and toddlers to learn and develop?
Submit your completed assignment by following the directions linked below. Please check the Course Calendar for specific due dates.High Quality Infant Toddler Environments Observation FormInfant Toddler SpaceNote- You may not observe all the bullet points below.Adaptations to be made to support the 8 considerationsThe Environment is:• Safe and free from hazards• Clean• Has natural light from windows and other soft lighting• Aesthetically pleasing• Uncluttered• Individually, age, and culturally appropriate• Inviting and interesting to childrenPlaces for nurturing children:· A comfortable space, away from active play for staff to sit on the floor (with back support) and hold a child or children• A loft • An adult-sized couch• A mat on the floor against the wall with pillows with washable covers• A rocking chair/gliderA quiet space for infants and toddlers:· A soft space away from active play• A soft space for two children with family photographs books, dolls and blanket, soft toys, quiet toys, puppets, and books• A nest (or create a nest with an inner tube) with a blanket over it• A space with boxes large enough for a child or two to crawl in and out ofA space for toddlers to use creative arts materials:A space for coloring or painting on paper on the floor (preferably near a short sink not used for food preparation)• Short tables for clay, play dough, thick crayons, nontoxic paints, or finger paints• Paper and other interesting materials to manipulate and create• Large pieces of paper and other interesting materials to draw and paint on• Short easels and brushes for toddlers to use by themselves or with other children• A low shelf with safe creative materials attractively displayed and available for children to use• A place to display children’s creative workSpaces for delighting the senses:• Short shelves and tables for toddlers with sensory materials displayed in an inviting way• Small individual tubs or other containers, or water tables with water (always monitor children very carefully with water; children have drowned in an inch of water in a container)• Containers or tables for sand and other natural materials• Interesting materials such as funnels, plastic animals, cups, scales, etc. on the sensory tables or in containers• A light table• Wading pools filled with different textured balls and other safe materials• A space to use feeling and sound boxes• A space for making bubbles with various sizes of wandsSpaces for the development of motor skills:• Floor space so that children can move freely and be active with:• Couches to walk around (while using the couch for support) and climb up on for seeing the world• Ramps and short climbers to climb • Tunnels to crawl through• Mats at different levels for climbing • Rocking boats• Balls of all sizes• Objects that can be moved, such as child- sized shopping carts, doll strollers, and riding toys• A bar fastened to the wall on various levels so that children can pull to stand• Large empty appliance boxes with windows cut out and/or the end cut off so that children can crawl through the boxSpaces for toys and manipulatives:• Short shelves with toys/materials–carefully arranged so that children can reach them– Toys that move, make noise, and change shape – Safe nesting blocks, ring towers, large beads, “cause and effect” toys, “take apart” toys, shape sorters, stacking toys, large pegs and peg boards, large beads for stringing, puzzles, and other interesting materials– Puppets, dolls– Toy telephones– Tubes of varying lengths and• A child-sized table and chairs• Spaces to play on the floor by themselves, with staff and with peersSpaces to build and construct:• A platform or hard surface for building• Blocks of all sizes, shapes and textures• Wooden animals, little houses, play people, trucks and carsSpaces for pretend play:• A corner or some small area with:– A mirror, low pegs to hang clothing, scarves, purses, hats, easy-to-put-on dress up clothes– Safe kitchen utensils, pots and pans, child size dishes, containers of various sizes, pretend multi-ethnic food, and/or clean empty commercial food boxes– Multiethnic dolls, doll blankets, baby bottles and bed, doll clothes– Puppets of varying sizes and shapes– Child-sized tables, stoves, refrigeratorsSpaces for infants and toddlers to experience books:• A special place that is designed for infants and toddlers to choose books from an attractive, easily reached display and “read” or be read to in comfort• An adult-sized couch for adults to read to children• A child-sized couch or chair for children to “read” books• Also place books around the room as any space is a great space for reading to a child or a child looking at booksOutdoor spaces:• Spaces for walking, running, jumping• Large stable equipment such as climbers and slides that are inviting for peer interactions• Areas of sun and shade• Spaces for toddlers to use riding toys• Materials for carrying, building, manipulating, and creating• Spaces for adults to nurture children• Spaces for children to sit and rest alone or together Adapted from CSEFEL Infant Toddler Environment Planning- http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/inftodd/mod2/2.9.pdf    Page 4 of 4