Spaces to Be Me: Quality Environments in Early Years Services
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Author
Graham, Imelda
Date
2014
Citation
Graham, I. (2014). Spaces to Be Me: Quality Environments in Early Years Services. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13085/1354
Abstract
Environments can be many things to children. They can be places of exploration, of fun, of familiarity, of challenge, of nurture, of wildness and of wonder. Early years educators, through the environments they offer in their service, can provide children with opportunities for a wonderland, an assortment of experiences that will invite and engage them in their thinking and learning. As well as being of immediate value for the child now, these experiences will also bank important memories and pathways within the child’s brain, leading to a store of confidence in their own abilities and resilience for dealing with life’s challenges.
Through this publication, early years educators will discover how to create quality environments. They will be supported as to how best to examine all aspects of the environment, such as the structural aspects, design features, role of the adult, types of play, resources required and, above all, the interplay between each child and the environment, which is dynamic and ever-changing.
The impact of environments on children is discussed – how poor environments can stifle learning and creativity while rich, challenging and stimulating environments can enhance all aspects of the child’s experience. Guidance on how to structure and equip rich environments that support children’s development and how to bring them to life through the dynamic of interactions is defined and illustrated throughout.
This publication provides tips, ideas, thought-provoking stories and thinking points. These will help encourage educators to have a fresh perspective on the environment, recognising that it must not be a static entity, rather it should be fluid, malleable and responsive to the needs, hopes and dreams of those being nurtured within it.