Creating a Learning Environment that Promotes Resilience

A young child’s learning environment includes outside spaces, indoor places, and everything in between – toys, learning materials, wall displays, and equipment. It also includes the children and adults who interact in these spaces. A well-planned environment reflects the culture, home language, and interests of all children and their families. The learning environment has an important impact on children’s efforts to build relationships, play and learn, eat, and rest.

What does a resilience-promoting environment look like? How can one transform an environment into one that supports the social and emotional development of young children? Here are some ideas…

Preschool

• Create a homelike environment that reflects all children and their families
• Provide materials and toys that correspond to children’s varying skills and interests, and offer appropriate challenges
• Provide materials and toys that support group play and development of social skills
• Offer materials that encourage children to explore and express their feelings
• Provide be-by-myself spaces that are private but still visible to teachers
• Display toys and materials within reach so children can see what is available and choose what they want to use independently
• Establish clear, accessible, and well-stocked areas for different kinds of play and learning experiences
• Include space and materials for large muscle play, both indoors and out
• Post important classroom information for children, families, and visitors

Infant/Toddler

• Make sure there are enough adults to safely care for the infants/toddlers
• Keep the room and materials clean and safe
• Create a homelike environment to reflect all of the children’s families
• Provide materials children can explore with their senses
• Have duplicates of favorite play items
• Have cozy spaces where the infants/toddlers can safely take a break from the group
• Provide individual spaces where the infants/toddlers can store their special things
• Display toys within reach so the infants/toddlers can see what is available and make choices
• Have comfortable places to sit with the infants/toddlers for one-on-one time

For more information, including specific strategies for each of the above ideas, check out the following resources:

1. Promoting Resilience in Preschoolers: A Strategy Guide for Early Childhood Professionals, 2nd Edition
2. Promoting Resilience, Infant and Toddler Strategies Guide

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