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Creating a Responsive Creating a Responsive Environment Environment For Infants and ToddlersFor Infants and Toddlers

Pre-Service TrainingPre-Service TrainingSeptember 11, 2013September 11, 2013

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QuestionQuestion

What are some key What are some key components that must be components that must be considered when setting considered when setting up an infant or toddler up an infant or toddler

environmentenvironment??

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Key Concepts Key Concepts

11. Ensure Safety. Ensure Safety

2. Promote Health2. Promote Health

3. Provide Comfort3. Provide Comfort

5. Be Child Size5. Be Child Size

6. Maximize Flexibility6. Maximize Flexibility

7. Encourage Movement7. Encourage Movement

8. Provide Choices8. Provide Choices

9. Maximize Space9. Maximize Space

10. Acknowledges 10. Acknowledges familyfamily

ActivityActivityRead scenario and share Read scenario and share Group 1 - ScenarioGroup 1 - Scenario

Group 2 - ScenarioGroup 2 - Scenario

Group 3 - ScenarioGroup 3 - Scenario

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How did the environment How did the environment in each of the scenarios in each of the scenarios affect your feelings and affect your feelings and

behavior?behavior?

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AnxiousAnxiousConfusedConfusedNervousNervousScaredScared

InsecureInsecureUncomfortableUncomfortable

AngryAngryDisappointedDisappointed

Not SafeNot Safe

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How does the environment How does the environment affects children’s learning and affects children’s learning and

behavior?behavior?

If you create a well defined, clean, safe, nurturing, pleasant, and well organized, environment that welcomes families and addresses the needs, interests, and growing abilities of infants and toddlers, it will positively affect their behavior, encourage exploration, performance and life long learning.

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How would this environment make children feel?

Negative EnvironmentNegative Environment

If your environment is not If your environment is not clean/healthy disorganized, unsafe, clean/healthy disorganized, unsafe, and messy, it will create chaos, and messy, it will create chaos, cause misbehavior, anxiety, cause misbehavior, anxiety, mistrust, fear, and disinterest in mistrust, fear, and disinterest in learning.learning.

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1010What’s wrong with these pictures?

How would this environment make children feel?

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Safe Environments have:Safe Environments have:

Developmentally appropriate Developmentally appropriate equipment made of non-toxic equipment made of non-toxic materialsmaterials

Stable shelves, objects and fixtures Stable shelves, objects and fixtures with rounded cornerwith rounded corner

Steps toddlers can use to reach Steps toddlers can use to reach changing tables/sinkschanging tables/sinks

Covered outlets Covered outlets Non-chocking toys/materialsNon-chocking toys/materials

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Look out for potential hazards Look out for potential hazards such as:such as:

Slippery floorsSlippery floors Sharp edgesSharp edges Unstable shelvesUnstable shelves Chipped paintChipped paint

Uncovered electrical outletsUncovered electrical outlets Loose pieces of tilesLoose pieces of tiles Choking hazardsChoking hazards Long CordsLong Cords

As soon as a baby starts crawling, you can count on the fact that s/he will discover every hidden danger in the environment. That means his/her caregivers need to discover those hidden dangers first and eliminate them.

Space-Planning Guidelines C.C p. Space-Planning Guidelines C.C p. 4040

Arrange the room so that all children can be seen at all Arrange the room so that all children can be seen at all timestimes

Identify space for each of the routines and experiencesIdentify space for each of the routines and experiences Organize the room efficientlyOrganize the room efficiently Clearly define spaces that need protection (floor spaces)Clearly define spaces that need protection (floor spaces) Establish traffic patterns and pathways with low dividersEstablish traffic patterns and pathways with low dividers Locate active areas away from quiet areasLocate active areas away from quiet areas Choose floor surfacesChoose floor surfaces Include places for adultsInclude places for adults Create a variety of levels for infants, toddlers and twos Create a variety of levels for infants, toddlers and twos

to exploreto explore Provide light from a variety of resourcesProvide light from a variety of resources

Daily Schedule with Daily Schedule with pictorialspictorials

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What’s wrong with this picture?

Diapering and ToiletingDiapering and Toileting

1515Remove poster

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Before After

What’s wrong with these pictures?

Sleeping AreaSleeping Area

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What’s wrong with these pictures?

Interest AreasInterest Areas

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Design spaces that accommodate Design spaces that accommodate children’s developmental needs, children’s developmental needs,

abilities, and interests.abilities, and interests.

2020

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Displaying MaterialsDisplaying Materials Store toys and materials in the area where they will Store toys and materials in the area where they will

be used more oftenbe used more often

Display toys so children can see what is available and Display toys so children can see what is available and choose what they wantchoose what they want

Use picture and word labels on the containers and Use picture and word labels on the containers and shelvesshelves

Rotate materials regularlyRotate materials regularly

Hang pictures, unbreakable mirrors, and interesting Hang pictures, unbreakable mirrors, and interesting toys where children can see and touch themtoys where children can see and touch them

Materials must be organized and displayed Materials must be organized and displayed thoughtfully with children’s strengths and thoughtfully with children’s strengths and interests in mind, the children are more interests in mind, the children are more likely to use and care for them.likely to use and care for them.

What’s wrong with What’s wrong with this picture?this picture?

The arrangement of the physical The arrangement of the physical environment sends powerful messages environment sends powerful messages to children and families. It affects how to children and families. It affects how

children learn, feel and behave.children learn, feel and behave.

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Child-Size Child-Size

Tables and chairs that are small and lowTables and chairs that are small and low 24” shelves so children can see and reach toys.24” shelves so children can see and reach toys. Mirrors and pictures at child’s height.Mirrors and pictures at child’s height. Easels at toddler’s eye level, 10” – 14” off ground.Easels at toddler’s eye level, 10” – 14” off ground.

Guide to selection of age appropriate Guide to selection of age appropriate

tables and chairstables and chairs

AgeAge Chair HeightChair Height Table HeightTable Height

12 - 18 months12 - 18 months 5 ½” chair5 ½” chair 12” Height12” Height

18 – 24 months18 – 24 months 6 ½ ” chair6 ½ ” chair 13” Height13” Height

30 – 36 months30 – 36 months 7 ½ ” chair7 ½ ” chair 14” height14” height

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Match furniture and materials to the size of the children

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Ways to maximize flexibility for Ways to maximize flexibility for infants and toddlers:infants and toddlers:

Keep the middle of the room open so it can Keep the middle of the room open so it can be changed from day to day as neededbe changed from day to day as needed

Have equipment that is easy to moveHave equipment that is easy to move Store a variety of toys, materials, and Store a variety of toys, materials, and

equipment in a convenient placeequipment in a convenient place Vary the use of an area, such as the Vary the use of an area, such as the

eating/napping areaeating/napping area Have toys and equipment availableHave toys and equipment available Use risers that can stand alone ready to Use risers that can stand alone ready to

movemove

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Flexible EquipmentFlexible Equipment

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Areas to Encourage Movement Areas to Encourage Movement

Include the following to encourage Include the following to encourage movement:movement:

Open pathways for crawlingOpen pathways for crawling Steps to climb onSteps to climb on Surfaces with a variety of texturesSurfaces with a variety of textures Tunnels to crawl throughTunnels to crawl through Play pitsPlay pits Pads for tummy timePads for tummy time Balance beamsBalance beams Carpet risersCarpet risers LoftsLofts Age appropriate outdoor playground Age appropriate outdoor playground

equipment for outdoor playequipment for outdoor play

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Setting up Specific AreasSetting up Specific Areas

Entrance and parent Entrance and parent communication areacommunication area

Learning and development centersLearning and development centers Meeting/carpet AreaMeeting/carpet Area Multi level areasMulti level areas Sleep/napping areaSleep/napping area Feeding/Eating AreaFeeding/Eating Area Diapering/Toileting AreaDiapering/Toileting Area

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Criteria for Setting Up the Criteria for Setting Up the EnvironmentEnvironment

Square Footage Square Footage CribsCribs Diapering/Toilet AreaDiapering/Toilet Area Food Prep AreaFood Prep Area Hand washing sinksHand washing sinks Sinks HeightSinks Height DoorsDoors FlooringFlooring StorageStorage ColorColor Tables and chairs heightsTables and chairs heights Toy ShelvesToy Shelves

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Diapering and Toileting AreasDiapering and Toileting Areas

Set up so that you can see all children in room.Set up so that you can see all children in room. Set up close to hand washing sink.Set up close to hand washing sink. Away from food prep area and tooth brushing.Away from food prep area and tooth brushing. Storage for bleach solution, diapers, wipes, and Storage for bleach solution, diapers, wipes, and

extra clothing away from children’s reach.extra clothing away from children’s reach. A safe changing table with smooth, easily A safe changing table with smooth, easily

cleaned surface and a raised rim and strap.cleaned surface and a raised rim and strap. Steps on changing table for older toddlers.Steps on changing table for older toddlers. A lined diaper pailA lined diaper pail Child size toilet facility for toddlers with sinkChild size toilet facility for toddlers with sink Paper towel holders and soap dispenserPaper towel holders and soap dispenser

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Non-mobile Non-mobile infantsinfants

Mobile InfantsMobile Infants ToddlersToddlers

Diapering areaDiapering area Diapering AreaDiapering Area Toileting AreaToileting Area

Food Prep AreaFood Prep Area Eating/Feeding AreaEating/Feeding Area Eating AreaEating Area

Feeding AreaFeeding Area Play AreaPlay Area 1 sink1 sink

Play AreaPlay Area Cribs/CotsCribs/Cots 8 cots8 cots

8 Cribs (2 8 Cribs (2 emergency)emergency)

2 tables – 8 chairs2 tables – 8 chairs 2 Exits2 Exits

2 sinks2 sinks 2 sinks2 sinks 2 Tables – 8 chairs2 Tables – 8 chairs

2 Exits2 Exits 2 Exits2 Exits Gross MotorGross Motor

Rocking ChairsRocking Chairs Rocking chairsRocking chairs Dramatic PlayDramatic Play

Storage spaceStorage space Storage SpaceStorage Space Art/Sensory AreaArt/Sensory Area

Diaper PailsDiaper Pails Diaper PailsDiaper Pails Literacy/Library Literacy/Library AreaArea

ShelvesShelves ShelvesShelves

Adult chairsAdult chairs Adult chairsAdult chairs

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Environments Environments

Use hospital booties in infant rooms.Use hospital booties in infant rooms. Keep the room and floor cleanKeep the room and floor clean Prevent chipped paintPrevent chipped paint Minimize the risk of injury by conducting daily Minimize the risk of injury by conducting daily

safety check list. safety check list.

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