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 TOPIC 1 CREATING QUALITY EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
SELF-CHECK 1.1
1. List the importance of quality environment in early childhood settings.
2. To what extent does the environment affect young childrenÊs early development?
1.2 THE INDICATORS OF QUALITY ENVIRONMENT
Environment for early care and education is a place where young children and adults meet to interact with a common purpose. To provide quality early childhood environment, we need to consider its appropriateness according to the childrenÊs abilities, culture, growth and development. These can be seen through the spaces we arrange for young children that offer variety of developmentally appropriate materials. These materials will contribute to provide nurturing home-like settings, as well as the interaction of young children and adults which enrich the environment as a whole. The following are the indicators of high quality environment of early childhood settings:
(a) Organised, challenging and aesthetically pleasing
It must well-organised, predictable, stable and comprehensive. A well- organised environment has potential to provide children with challenging experiences. Predictable means simple routine that help children to understand what behaviour is expected. Besides, learning is nurtured in an environment that values opportunities and appreciation. An aesthetically pleasing learning environment can help children develop appreciation for the beautiful environment around them. It develops awareness and sensorial responsiveness to beauty in the surroundings, especially in art and nature.
(b) Creating caring children
To produce caring children, adults must create a caring quality environment. This environment must support the relationship between young children and adults, and also between caregivers and family. Young children require nurturing care to build trust and to motivate them to learn. They should be cared for in consistent manner and have a positive relationship with adults. Thus, a respectful atmosphere that helps them to create a healthy relationship with others is important. Caring environment
Young children respond differently, according to the design of the environment in which they live. To get young children to respond, the environment must be flexible and easy for them to work and be productive.
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