Environment in Early Childhood Settings

Running head: ENVIRONMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS 1
Environment in Early Childhood Settings
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ENVIRONMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS 2
Environment in Early Childhood Settings
1. Define the concept of environment in early childhood settings.
The learning process of young children is greatly affected by their environment. The space, daily
schedule, learning materials and how educators communicate to children are some of crucial
features that affect the teaching and learning process (McLachlan, Fleer & Edwards, 2018). A
good learning environment is significant factor and can be prepared to support the healthy
development of the child. The surroundings of young children affects child’s brain development.
A good environment for the child supports the brain development of a child and vice verse.
Early childhood education is emerging as one of world agendas where parents, teachers, policy
makers and political leaders are eager to improve quality and easy access of childhood education.
This eager is brought by multiple evidence that suggests that children who attend quality early
childhood education settings benefits a lot in relation to their behavior and their education life.
One of the most common cited evidence demonstrates that children who are taken to quality
education centers are able to perform well in their academic level when compared to these who
fail to attend education centers (McLachlan, Fleer & Edwards, 2018). Also, these children are
able to engage with their peers appropriately, have a high chance of attending universities and
colleges, and have a lower risk of incarceration.
Environmental practices can be defined as aspects of materials, equipments, routines, space and
activities that educators and parents can intentionally modify in order to support the learning
process of toddlers. An early childhood environment settings may involve many things. For
example, (Bagnato , McLean, Macy & Neisworth, 2011), defines it as a safe place where
toddlers are supervised while protecting them from elements. It also involves significant

ENVIRONMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS 3
practices of the day like bathing, washing hands, playing, sleeping and eating. Safe and
responsive surroundings are crucial part of supporting not only the learning process but also the
development children. Such environment also serves as a main component of challenging
behavior interventions for toddlers with disabilities.
A safe environment for children may also involve creating conducive environments like classes
or playing grounds that will support children in their learning process across all age groups and
development of domains for social, communication and cognitive. A well designed environment
will support responsive care giving, decrease challenging behavior, promote toddlers
engagement and encourage independence and feelings of competence in infants. A well designed
environment will also facilitate appropriate social interactions and provide structure and
predictability among children.
According to (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett & Farmer, 2017), early childhood environment
settings should be; Rich in play- playing is one of ways that helps toddlers to be able to integrate
all their new experience into their developing brains, emotions and bodies. This is supported by
evidence which demonstrates that toddlers learn best through playing. A safe early childhood
setting should also be rich in experience where toddlers can experiment, explore and learn basic
knowledge via direct experience. This is important since during this time, children are involved
in learning about the physical world.
A good childhood environment should also be rich in teaching. The role of a teacher is crucial in
toddle’s life. This is because infants depend on their teachers or educators to be their model,
confidant, instructor and their colleague. Additionally, childhood environment should be rich
with people. Toddles have desire of a lot of exposure to diversified group of people who are