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14  TOPIC 1 CREATING QUALITY EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
ACTIVITY 1.2
Conduct an observation at an early childhood centre near your area. Based on your observation, you are required to:
• Assess best practices for quality environment that meets childrenÊs needs at the centre;
• List necessary precautions for reducing the risk of accidents at the centre; and
• Provide examples and specific suggestions you might consider to improve the safety and security environment of the setting.
 Environment is defined as all the influences that affect children and adults in the early childhood setting.
 Environment that supports childrenÊs learning is dependent on the arrangement of equipment and materials that gain and sustain childrenÊs interest and imagination.
 The early childhood setting should be arranged and organised accordingly to promote active learning and interaction among children.
 An environment acts as a second teacher which can enhance childrenÊs positive development in learning, positive relationships between children and adults, through the use of pleasant and simple language, warm and responsive physical contact, interactive engagements, collaboration between children and adults, and challenging activities.
 The childrenÊs home and school or child-care environment has a strong impact on childrenÊs development as they spend most of their life at home, in school or at child-care centres.
 A good quality environment provides children the opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes through their experiences in stimulating surroundings.
 Piaget (1951) believed that children construct knowledge through their senses along with interaction with others and by acting on their environment.
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