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TOPIC 3 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS 
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THE IMPORTANCE OF TOUCHING AND MOVEMENT IN INFANTS’ AND TODDLERS’ ENVIRONMENT
Touch and movement are the earliest ways for infants to discover themselves and the world around them. For small children like infants and toddlers, touch and movements form the base for more complex learning processes. They are the first modalities of learning and form the foundation for bonding, relationships, perception, learning, emotional well-being, physical agility, cognitive functioning and also the general ease with which a child can develop and grow. Vygotsky emphasises that development is influenced not only by biological developmental stages but also by society. His work further suggests that environmental conditions for learning are important to the child-centred environment. The child-centred movement environment ensures a wide range of movement experiences so that infants and toddlers can play and move at developmental levels that are individually appropriate. At the same time the environment is designed to provide opportunities for infants and toddlers to observe and learn from adults and peers.
3.2.1 Touching in Infants’ and Toddlers’ Environment
In the context of neurobiology, Gardner defined touching as „the special sense by which contact with the body of an organism is perceived in the conscious mind‰. The nervous system in our body develops rapidly during infancy. While this neurological development has an effect on movement, the infantÊs and toddlerÊs movements also affect the nervous system. Neurological organisation is greatly influenced by the emergence and integration of the small childÊs movement patterns. Patterns that do not emerge or do not become integrated can have a serious effect on the childÊs functioning. It is easier for infants and toddlers to facilitate optimal movements because the nervous system has a great deal of plasticity during this period.
Touching is definitely important to infants and toddlers. It makes infants and toddlers feel safe and secure. The sense of touch starts developing at birth. It is how infants learn about their environment and bond with others, especially their mother. The sense of touch allows infants and toddlers to determine an objectÊs size, shape, weight and texture. It also helps them to identify if the object causes pain or pleasure. In this way, touch allows infants and toddlers to learn about their environment and the behaviour of others. In fact, the sense of touch is more important than vision. It helps infants and toddlers to grow and develop into healthy young children.
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