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TOPIC 10 PROVISIONS FOR ADULTS
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10.1 AREAS OF CONVENIENCE FOR PARENTS AND STAFF
In early childhood education, the environment of the setting has a profound effect on the feelings, actions and behaviour of the staff, young children and their families. As we have previously discussed, young children organise and understand their world through a healthy and quality environment that adults provide. Although quality areas for young children are important and the environment they are presented with will make a big difference in their life, areas of convenience for parents and staff are also essential for helping young children in their overall development. Thus, it is important to have a place that ensures confidentiality for parents and staff such as parent-teacher meeting for more informal sharing of information. Providing an environment where parents are at ease will strengthen the parent-teacher relationship. The stronger this relationship is the more likely the young child will succeed in school and in life.
10.1.1 Space for Parents
General perceptions that parents have of the physical environment of early childhood setting describe the importance of a feeling of connection to the space. Parents valued homely, welcoming and inviting facilities that display a positive feeling of the space. Thus, parents play an important role in the set-up of an early childhood setting. They should be encouraged to be part of the setting because they are an active support in early childhood programmes and the best sources of information about quality of care their young child receives. Understanding parentsÊ perceptions about the quality of childcare is important for a number of reasons. To support this, early childhood setting should not only be mindful and attentive to the young children but also provide positive service experience to the parents and their family members.
A convenient early childhood setting is considered as the place of transition for parents and young children. Parents and young children should feel that the setting is competent, safe and secure. For some young children, finding out that their parents will be away from them will leave them feeling alone. At the centre, they are not only away from parents, but also from home and other family members. Thus, it is more convenient to have personal space for transition in early childhood setting. By providing this space, parents can spend time with their young child for a while, say goodbye to their child and let their child know when they will be back. Although the child may spend many hours in the setting, parents often spend at least a few minutes before leaving their child at the centre to say good bye to their child and to build relationships with the staff.
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