Presentation on theme: "WestEd.org Infant & Toddler Group Care Environments."— Presentation transcript:
WestEd.org Infant & Toddler Group Care Environments
WestEd.org Learning Objectives Participants will be able to: Evaluate I/T care environments in terms of health and safety issues. Discuss why adult comfort and convenience are important considerations for responsive caregiving. Explain why child choice and child-size furnishings and equipment are necessary. Provide examples of how an I/T care environment can provide flexibility and encourage movement. Discuss how the play environment is curriculum.
WestEd.org Activity: What kind of environment would you prefer? Imagine for a moment that you are “older” and now unable to live independently. Your family is considering a number of retirement homes, and need your input on what kind of environment you prefer. Take a few minutes to answer the question for yourself, and then discuss your responses in a small group.
WestEd.org Reflect… Think about places in your infant/toddler program that: You like best o Why? What makes them effective, positive, inviting, enjoyable? You like least o Why? What makes them uninviting, not very enjoyable or pleasant, difficult? Keep your thoughts in mind as you watch the DVD “Space to Grow”.
WestEd.org Space to Grow: Creating Child Care Environments for Infants and Toddlers (Second Edition)
WestEd.org Space to Grow: Safety and Health Concept 1: Safety Concept 2: Health
WestEd.org Dyad Discussion: Safety and Health “Space to Grow: Creating a Child Care Environment for Infants and Toddlers” Was there anything you saw that you would like to adapt for your program?
WestEd.org Space to Grow: Comfort and Convenience Concept 3: Comfort Concept 4: Convenience
WestEd.org Comfort for Adults and Children What do you see in this scene that provides comfort for children and adults?
WestEd.org Dyad Discussion: Comfort and Convenience “Space to Grow: Creating a Child Care Environment for Infants and Toddlers” What do you have in your I/T environment that provides comfort for adults? Children? What was an example related to comfort and convenience that you could adapt to your classroom or family child care home?
WestEd.org What is convenient about this Infant eating area?
WestEd.org Comfort in Family Child Care & Centers CenterFamily Child Care
WestEd.org Does your environment have soft, cozy spaces?
WestEd.org Space to Grow: Child-Sized Furniture and Flexibility Concept 5: Child-Sized Furniture Concept 6: Flexibility
WestEd.org Dyad Discussion: Child-Sized Furnishings and Flexibility “Space to Grow: Creating a Child Care Environment for Infants and Toddlers” What percentage of your furnishings are sized for infants and toddlers? What is your plan to add child-sized furnishings and equipment for your program?
WestEd.org Space to Grow: Encourage Movement and Child Choice Concept 7: Encourage Movement Concept 8: Child Choice
WestEd.org Dyad Discussion: Child-Sized Furnishings and Flexibility “Space to Grow: Creating a Child Care Environment for Infants and Toddlers” Does your indoor and outdoor environment encourage movement? How could it be improved? In what ways does your environment allow for child choice? How could child choice be enhanced?
WestEd.org 6-18 month room: various levels throughout classroom Note that the curtains and fabric on the walls help to create a more home-like environment.
WestEd.org Creating Home-Like Environments Following are a few photos of an infant/toddler center’s efforts to create a more home-like environment in their large center.
The curtains, green ivy, and fabric hanging from the ceiling, along with plants in the room, create a more home-like and calming environment.
WestEd.org Family photos are displayed at the child’s eye level.
WestEd.org Clutter-free shelves with similar toys grouped together. Children understand where items are located, making a child’s selection of choices easier, and clean-up time more manageable.
WestEd.org The shelves for this infant room are very low and accessible to the children.
WestEd.org Family-style eating environment promotes children’s learning of socialization skills and self-help skills, by allowing for passing foods to friends and serving themselves. Language is promoted by identifying color and foods.
WestEd.org More home-like environmental features.
WestEd.org Another home-like environment.
WestEd.org Toys displayed in baskets and doilies create a home-like atmosphere.
WestEd.org Activity: Taking Infants’ Perspectives In closing, let’s watch a fun video clip in which two teachers perform a “white glove test” on their infant/toddler room. Before the next session, consider performing a “white glove test” on your infant/toddler environment.
WestEd.org Taking Infants’ Perspectives: The White Glove Test
WestEd.org Reviewing the Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: Evaluate I/T care environments in terms of health and safety issues. Discuss why adult comfort and convenience are important considerations for responsive caregiving. Explain why child choice and child-size furnishings and equipment are necessary. Provide examples of how an I/T care environment can provide flexibility and encourage movement. Discuss how the play environment is curriculum.