Can it be that environment affects children?

Does having a clean and organized space really help children flourish and learn? I’m sure most parents reading this will get scared saying ” help, my house is a mess!” However, no need to worry if your house is basically organized and all dangerous items are under lock and key. Read on.

It is important to know that, yes,  environment affect children. In a safe and productive environment children learn and absorb better. It is important that teachers and parents accommodate children’s needs and know what they can do  to help children reach their full potential.

Many children learn better, absorb and remember and feel comfortable asking questions when their environment such as their classroom and home is safe and pleasant. So what does safe and pleasant mean?

According to the ECERS scale – a tool used to assess classrooms says that the environment is all encompassing. Their definition of environment is ” those spatial, programmatic, and interpersonal features that directly affect the children and adults in an early childhood setting.” So yes,  the environment affect children.

What are they and how can we ensure that our environment is conducive for our children or students?

The features that they noted that affect children are :

Space and Furnishing,                                                                                                                   Personal Care Routines                                                                                                             Language- Reasoning                                                                                                                 Activities                                                                                                                                                     Interaction                                                                                                                                                Program Structure                                                                                                                                Parents and staff

Space and Furnishing:                               

This covers the classroom or if you want to assess your house it will cover your space at home. It includes amount of space, cleanliness, proper lighting, ventilation and any safety hazards. Your goal is to make your house/ classroom comfortable and a pleasure to be there. No child can be in a hot stuffy room whether it is at home or in school.

What can you do to ensure proper and a safe space?

1. Make sure there is enough light coming in, open the shades.
2. There should be enough space to move around ( if you live in the city in a tiny space you might need to get your child moving outdoors!)
3. Keep your classroom neat and orderly. ( Obviously it will get messy though make sure everything has a space :). )
4. Clean up spills as they happen.
5. Furniture in house or classroom is in good repair and sturdy – nothing will fall and break on a child.
6. The ECERS demands a :”cozy corner” or a soft space in the classroom. I use this at home too. It is a safe space for a child to go to if they need time for themselves or some space and quiet.
7. Is your furniture arrangement thought out? Is the playroom next to the bedroom? A “quiet center next to a “loud center” in your classroom?
8. Do you foster independence? Do your children or students know where the toys or classroom materials belong? Label the stuff with pictures to help them!
9. Decorate your house and classroom with the students/ child’s artwork!

Personal Care Routines:

Personal Care includes greeting, meals, nap or bedtime. Do the children have a routine?

What can you do to ensure proper personal care and routines?

1. Greet them when they wake up or come to school. Wish them a good day.
2. Teach them how and when to wash their hands properly. Do you know how to?
3. Make meal time, fun time! Talk to the children as you eat with them. Share experiences.
4. Ensure that bed/nap time is consistent and timely. It is a relaxed time, perfect for music or books.
5. Teach children proper toileting procedures. How to wipe themselves properly, flush and wash hands.
6. Don’t forget to brush teeth!
7. Anticipate problems and look out for it. You are serving cake and children tend to see who got a bigger piece- anticipate it, dont lose your calm!

Language and Reasoning:

Build your child’s or students language. Read books, talk to them, help them learn and grow!

What you can do to ensure proper Language and Reasoning:

1. Read, read and read some more. Have a huge variety of books such as fact, fiction, science, people, and animals.
2. Have materials to encourage talking and sharing such as dolls and puppets.
3. Talk to your children, ask questions, share new words with them.

Activities:

Ensure you have various materials covering a wide range of activities. This includes:

1. fine motor or manipulatives- stringing, beads, puzzles
2. art- play dough, markers, crayons, collage materials
3. music- have a cd player available with many cds, let them make music, drum away!
4. blocks/ building- let them use their imagination to build and engineer.
5. sand and water table- this is great for children with sensory needs. At home I usually fill up a sink with water and give them some toys and it keeps them busy for hours!
6. dramatic play center- kitchen materials, dolls, dress up
7. science- bring in natural materials such as pine cones, differnt color leaves, let them observe them, take care of pet or plant.
8. math- counting, patterning, color games, various geometric shapes and sizes

Interaction:

Your interaction with the children should be pleasant. Be there for them to help solve problems and conflicts.

How you can ensure proper interactions:

1. Enjoy being with the children. shoe them you are happy to be with them.
2. Discipline in a manner that makes sense, in which they will learn, not from anger.
3. Look out for child’s needs. ( are they thirsty after playing outside?)
4. Your conversation with them should be 80% pleasant talk and 20% direction or instruction. When you tell them 5 more minutes until clean up or go get dressed that is considered instruction.

Program/ home Structure:

Understand each child’s needs, some may need more time to complete a task.

How can you ensure proper structure?

1. Be flexible- understand each child.
2. Let them play!
3. When you are not consistent them them know. Such as you are planning to go to the park today- prepare them.

Parents and Staff:

Build relationships with your student’s parents or your child’s teachers. Be in touch with them. Let them know if there are any changes and what is going on. As a teacher send home feedback in the form of newsletters or a small handwritten note. As a parent, send in a thank you note or call teachers to brief them on any changes in the home ( baby, move, grandparent visit). A thank you note will go a long way.

 

Now that you know that things as basic as a warm and loving atmosphere and a safe and clean environment affect children you will hopefully be motivated to make some changes. I know this is a long list with many things to do. Take it one step at a time and you will see it will get easier.  A lot of the things go hand in hand. Loads of luck!