Page 63 - HBEC4303_flipTest

TOPIC 3 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS 
49
INFANTS’ AND TODDLERS’ ROOM FLOOR PLAN
Movement is essential for infants and toddlers, therefore, the setting and layout of the indoor area should provide them challenges through moving, seeing and touching. Thus, creating a floor plan for infants and toddlers requires planning. When designing an infantsÊ and toddlersÊ early childhood setting floor plan, we have to include a developmentally designed environment. It should also support infants and toddlersÊ emotional well-being as well as allow them to explore using all their senses. The plan should be well-organised and well-equipped with developmentally appropriate materials. This will allow infants and toddlers to rest, explore, and move freely and safely.
3.3.1 Floor Plan for Infants
An infantsÊ floor plan should take into account the area arrangement for such basic activities as arrival and departure, play, sleeping, feeding, and diapering. A well-planned infantsÊ floor plan should have specific areas such as sleeping area and playing area. A sleeping or napping area should have cribs for infants to rest and sleep. Ideally, this area will provide a quiet atmosphere for sleeping infants. Elements such as rocking chairs, changing tables, feeding and food preparation areas can be situated near this area.
As for their play area, it should be located away from the cribs or sleeping area. This will prevent playing infants from grabbing or shaking cribs and waking sleeping infants. The play area should have ample space for mobile infants to crawl, move around, play and safely explore. This is due to the fact that infants spend most of their day on the floor, creeping, moving, crawling and rolling. In addition, nursery storage can be placed in this area to create an organised space. Figure 3.4 displays a suggested indoor floor plan for infants (aged six to 12 months) and layout for a childrenÊs setting.
3.3
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)