COURSE:

EarlyChildhood
EducationII7112

DevelopmentallyAppropriatePracticeforEarly
ChildhoodPrograms

UNITB

ESSENTIAL
STANDARD:

4.00
4.01

OBJECTIVE:

B6
B2

20%

Createelementsofearlychildhoodenvironments
basedondevelopmentallyappropriatepractice.

6%

Exemplifyelementsofdevelopmentally
appropriateenvironmentsinearlychildhood
settingsandcriteriafortheirselection.

ESSENTIALQUESTIONS
:

Whatelementsareneededtoorganizeanearlychildhoodenvironment?
Whatarethebasicspaceneedsanddevelopmentalspaceneedsofearlychildhoodfacilities?
Whataresomeexamplesoffurnishings,equipment,toys,learningmaterials,andsupplies?
Whatelementsareusedtocreateatmosphere?
Whatshouldbeconsideredwhenselectingtoys,learningmaterials,andplayequipment?
UNPACKEDCONTENT
Elementsinvolvedincreatingdevelopmentallyappropriateenvironmentsinearlychildhood
settingsinordertosupportattainmentofdevelopmentalgoalsforchildrenare:

Spaceneeds
Furnishings,equipment,toys,learningmaterials,andsupplies
Elementstocreateatmosphere

Basicspaceneeds
:

Familyfriendlyspace

Invitingandconveniententrance
Spacetosignchildreninandout
Spaceforvisitorstowait
Displayspaceforpostings
Observationspace

Spacetomeetneedsofstaff

Lockedspaceforpersonalbelongings
Privateareaforconferencing

Spacetomeetbasiccareneedsofchildren

Napping
Toileting
Handwashingandtoothbrushing
Preparingmealsandsnacks
Servingandeating

Storingchildrensbelongings
FirstAidandemergencyresponses
Isolationspaceforchildrenwhobecomeill

4.01

OBJECTIVE:

B2

6%

Exemplifyelementsofdevelopmentallyappropriate
environmentsinearlychildhoodsettingsandcriteria
fortheirselection.

UNPACKEDCONTENT
Basicspaceneeds(continued)

Indoorspacetomeetlearninganddevelopmentalneedsofchildren

Openspaceforlargegroupactivities
Clearlydefined,separatespacesforeachlearningcenter

Outdoorplayspacetomeetlearninganddevelopmentalneedsofchildren

Spacebetweenplayequipmentforeaseofmovement
Protectionfromsunandanimalse.g.,sandbox
Visibilityonplayyard
Playspaceaccessibility

Developmentalspaceneedsforagegroups

Infantandtoddlerprograms

Diaperchangeareaswithproperventilation
Easyaccesstodiaperdisposal
Easilywashedfloors
Changingtablesatproperheight
Handwashingsinksnearchangingarea
Lowwindows
Warmroomsforcomfort

Preschoolprograms

Childsizebathroomfixtures
Lowtableswithchildsizechairs
Storageforcots
Anisolationroom

Schoolageprograms

Lotsorroomforinteractionandgroupgames
Separatespaceforschoolageandyoungerchildren
Private,semisecludedspacesforreading,relaxing,etc.
Privatestoragespaceforbelongings
Spaceforinterestactivitieshobbies,homework,computers,playground

Programsforchildrenwithspecialneeds

Easywheelchair/handicappedaccess
Widerclassroompathways
Rampsattheentrance
Oneormorelargetoiletstalls
Grabbarsintoiletstalls
Onewheelchairaccessiblesinkandmirror
Wheelchairaccessibletablesforeatingandactivities

4.01

OBJECTIVE:

B2

6%

Exemplifyelementsofdevelopmentallyappropriate
environmentsinearlychildhoodsettingsandcriteria
fortheirselection.

UNPACKEDCONTENT
Furnishings,equipment,toys,learningmaterials,andsupplies

Furnishings

Itemsoffurniturechairs,tables,bookcases,etc.
Moveable,notelectricalorelectronic

Equipment

Larger,generallymoreexpensiveitems
Oftenelectricalorelectronic

Toys

Smaller,generallylessexpensiveitems
Usedbychildrenforplay,resultsinlearning

Learningmaterials

Itemsusedforeducationalactivities
Usedmanytimesbeforetheywearout

Supplies

Itemsusedtocompleteactivities
Typically,theseitemsareusedupandmustberestocked

Elementstocreateatmosphere

Sound

Highnoiselevelsfatiguechildrenandmakethemunabletoconcentrate
Usedesignfeaturestoabsorb,filter,andlimitexcessnoise

Color

Colorsaffectchildrensanxietylevelsandbehaviors
Useappropriatecolorstosuitpurposesofareasintheclassroom

Lighting

Naturallightishealthyforchildren
Fluorescentlightingcanbeharshandcancausefatigueandeyestrain
Designlightingtoberestfulandhealthy

Patternsandtextures

Patternsandtexturesmakeanareamorehomeyandcozy
Usecarefullychosenpatternsandtexturestomakechildrenfeelatease

OBJECTIVE:

4.01

B2

6%

Exemplifyelementsofdevelopmentallyappropriate
environmentsinearlychildhoodsettingsandcriteria
fortheirselection.

UNPACKEDCONTENT
Selectionoftoys,learningmaterials,andplayequipment

Supportofprogramgoals/developmentalgoals

Appreciationofculturaldiversity
Dolls,puppets,books,etc.fromvariousethnicandculturalgroups
Musicandmusicalinstrumentsfromvariousethnicandculturalgroups
Independence
Materialsandbelongingsstoredwithineasyreachforchildren
Organizedstoragesystemwithlabels
Languageskills
Booksdisplayedatchildrenseyelevel
Widevarietyofbooks,puppets,tapes,etc.
Problemsolvingskills
Widevarietyofopenendedmaterials
Materialschangedfrequentlytostimulateinterest
Largemuscledevelopment
Classroomandplaygroundspaceforlargemuscleactivities
Trafficlanesdonotinterferewithlargemusclespace
Smallmuscledevelopment
Classroomspaceforsmallmuscleactivities
Adequateamountsofmaterialstosustainchildrensinterests
Selfconcept
Materialsandequipmentaredevelopmentallyappropriate
Childrensworkisdisplayed
Selfcontrol
Noisyandquietareaskeptseparate
Adequatespaceandcontrolledtrafficflowtocompleteactivities

Cost

Staywithinthebudgetoftheprogram
Furnishingacenterusuallycosts$700to$1100perchild

Balanceandversatility

Makesuretheitemwilladdbalancetoitemsalreadyonhand
Lookforitemsthatareopenendedandcanbeusedinavarietyofways

Space

Forusingtheitem
Forstoringtheitem

Supervision

Amountofsupervisionrequiredtousetheitemsafelyandeffectively
Checklicensingguidelinesforadulttochildratios

Maintenance

Varieswithtypeofitem

Considercostofupkeepandmaintenance

4.01

OBJECTIVE:

B2

6%

Exemplifyelementsofdevelopmentally
appropriateenvironmentsinearlychildhood
settingsandcriteriafortheirselection.

UNPACKEDCONTENT
Selectionoftoys,learningmaterials,andplayequipment(continued)

Durability

Considerthatbrokenitemsbecomeahazardforchildren
Investinqualitytoysthatwilllastalongtime

Quantity

Supplyanadequatenumberofthesameitemtopromotecooperation
Considerhowdifferenttheitemisfromitemsalreadyonhand

Childinvolvement

Activelyinvolvechildrentoexplore,manipulate,invent,orproblemsolve
Avoidspectatortoysthatrequirelittleeffortonthechildspart

Developmentalappropriateness

Matchdevelopmentallevelsofagegroups
Matchspecialneedsofchildrenintheprogram

Positive,nonbiasedmessages

Nonviolent
Nonsexist,nonbiased,notstereotypical
Multicultural

Safety

Studytoyscloselyforhazardsthatmaynotbeapparentatfirstglance
Avoidtoysandlearningmaterialsthathave:
Breakablepieces
Sharpedgesorpoints
Smallparts
Toxicmaterials
Electricallyoperatedtoyswithheatingelements
Batterycoverswithnolockingmechanism
Fabricproductsthatarenotflameretardant/resistant
Balloons
Toyswithsmallbeadlikeobjectsinsidethem

Pulltoyswithlongcordsorstrings
Plasticclimbingequipmentusedindoorswithoutpropersurfacing

Avoidplayyardequipmentwith:
Exposedpinchcrushparts
Headentrapmentopenings
OpenendSringsonswingsets
Hardswingseats
Exposedscrews,bolts,orsharpedges