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Quality Learning Environments

Setting an environment for learning through play is an important part of early childhood education. There are different types of environment that we might consider:

Physical Environment – the actual place and how it is arranged

Interactional Environment – the social interactions that take place within the environment

Temporal Environment – the routines and times that occur within the environment

When we are aware of how the inter-relational types of environment may influence children’s play, then we can be more responsive to their needs and allow children to decide how the resources and space may be interpreted and used.

Following the children’s interests and responding appropriately gives children the opportunity to make decisions, hypothesise, plan, negotiate, socially interact, and use a range of language to articulate their thoughts and ideas.

The environment can be the inspiration for kindling children’s imaginations, evoking awe, and wonderment, and stimulating curiosity. When Educators and whānau express genuine awe and wonder, children approach their learning with a sense of delight and inquiry (Gibbs,2011).

At Nurtured at Home, we support Educators to provide quality learning environments through one-to-one guidance, support and inspiration. Educators access a variety of quality resources, ongoing professional learning and development on learning through play, and free monthly resources to inspire activity ideas across the learning areas of social and emotional, oral language and literacy, maths and science.