Environments #1: Video

After watching the video, answer the questions below.

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/video/lets-talk-about-environments

  1. What is a primary social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers?
  2. What does Louis Torelli say that well-designed environments can provide to infants and toddlers?
  3. What can teachers do to create learning environments that are home like?
  4. What can teachers do to create environments that are safe?
  5. What can teachers do to create environments that are comfortable?
  6. What can teachers do to create environments that allow babies to move freely and explore?
  7. What can teachers do to create comfortable space for adults?
  8. What does Louis Torelli say are effects of inappropriate equipment on babies and adults?  

16 thoughts on “Environments #1: Video”

  1. What is a primary social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers? To develop a sense of trust and security in their environments and with the people who take care of them.

    What does Louis Torelli say that well-designed environments can provide to infants and toddlers? Children have a sense of security, they feel comfortable, it feels intimate, it supports individual and small groups learning as well as pro-social interaction. Children have a sense of control, and encourages self exploration. It supports self directed learning and small group interactions. It reduce aggressiveness and aimless wandering.

    What can teachers do to create learning environments that are home like? Use textiles and fabrics common to the children’s families cultures for curtains, blankets, and table cloths. Incorporate cultural items such as toys, musical instruments, containers, or clothing items such as hats, vest, bandanas, for children to use in pretend play. With the family’s permission display photos of children and their families. Place homemade books eye level of children to reach.

    What can teachers do to create environments that are safe? Make sure furniture and equipment are appropriately sized for infants and toddler, and in good condition. Put mats on surfaces and under equipment where children are learning to move and climb.

    What can teachers do to create environments that are comfortable? Consider adding large floor cushions or soft child size furniture. Make sure there is space for you and family members to join children in play

    What can teachers do to create environments that allow babies to move freely and explore? Arrange furniture and equipment so that there is adequate space for active movement and play. Make sure children are able to reach toys easily. Make sure there are multiples of popular toys, books, and other materials kept in consistent places.

    What can teachers do to create comfortable space for adults? Create functional areas like a home space. Add a love seat, a small chair, and pillows. Keep spaces well organized and stored properly.

    What does Louis Torelli say are effects of inappropriate equipment on babies and adults? The teacher consistently has to redirect the child, space is potentially unsafe, and its exhausting for caregivers to continuously redirect children. It gives children the message that what they are interested in is being restricted by the primary caregiver and has implication on development.

    1. Deb – Thanks for your thoughtful insights! When thinking of environments, we often focus on the needs of babies. As you point out, making the space comfortable for adults is equally important! When we create a home-like space, we are creating a family-like setting from infant curriculum!

  2. 1). What is a primary social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers? A primary social social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers is to learn many ways to interact with others and how to get their needs met from their caregivers.
    2). What does Louis Torelli say that well-designed environments can provide to infants and toddlers? Well designed environments according to Louis Torelli provides a safe place however it also supports their emotional and well being. It stimulates their senses and challenges their motor skills. A well designed environment also promotes children’s individual and social development. And most importantly well designed environments support the caregiver- child relationship. It gives the amount of space needed for caregivers to interact and observe the facilitation of children’s development which is why these well designed environments are so important for infants and toddlers.
    3). What can teachers do to create learning environments that are home like? In order for teachers to create a learning environment like at home, teachers can have cultural activities, allow students to bring a toy, blanket or soft animal from their house that is very important to them. Place large sized throw pillows grounded on the floor in the classroom where children can sit with a friend or two. Area rugs can also make children feel like at home. And most importantly respecting each child’s backgrounds and needs/wants.
    4). What can teachers do to create environments that are safe? Place every toy and or books in the children’s reach so they don’t climb anywhere if they watch to reach anything. Stay close to children so you can reach them if quickly needed. Keep a watchful eye on each child. Place mats around any hard surface and around play areas.
    5). What can teachers do to create environments that are comfortable? Teachers can make a comfortable environment by letting each individual student voice their opinion. Physical wise teachers can place mats in which children can sit comfortably. Or in each corner teacher can place large comfortable love sacs.
    6). What can teachers do to create environments that allow babies to move freely and explore? Teachers can create a wide space in which children have enough room to move around and explore, most babies crawl around so this will be very beneficial to them. Also babies explore things and so it is very important to let them have toys round the room on the floor so they can go and grab it.
    7). What can teachers do to create a comfortable space for adults? Teachers and programs can have a space outside the classroom if parents come in to watch their child they can come in or if they need a place to sit they can have a place outside the classroom where it is comfortable and kept clean. Also teachers can make families feel comfortable by letting parents come and visit their child in their classroom.
    8). What does Louis Torelli say are effects of inappropriate equipment on babies and adults? Louis Torelli says that inappropriate equipment (swing seats) allows children to explore their abilities to climb and move around which makes it very unsafe. This will have caregivers redirect the child spending half of their day doing so. Children like to explore things that they are told not to do so teachers spend most of their day redirecting children and being prohibited and this will affect the child’s development.

    1. Edisa — Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Yes, the environment in infant classrooms has to support relationships and trust! It is interesting to think of environments to foster trust. I wonder, what do you think that environment would look like?

  3. 1. It is to learn more ways to interact with other children as well as communicate with their care takers to ensure that their needs are met.
    2. It gives the amount of space needed for caregivers to interact and observe the facilitation of children’s development which is why these well designed environments are so important for infants and toddlers. Children have a sense of security, they feel comfortable, it feels intimate, it supports individual and small groups learning as well as pro-social interaction.
    3. It is important to respect the child’s background and the child’s needs. teachers can have cultural activities, allow students to bring a toy, blanket or soft animal from their house that is very important to them. With the family’s permission display photos of children and their families.
    4. Teachers can make sure that every toy is safely stored away and there is nothing too high that the child can climb, and also make sure rough and shard edges are covered so the child doesn’t hurt themselves.
    5. Teachers can make an environment comfortable by allowing the child to bring an item the like from home as well as allowing the children to have a say in the activities they may want to do and take part in.
    6. Teachers can create a big open space so that toddlers can be free to crawl around and explore. It is important that they can still easily reach toys so they can freely play as well.
    7. I would recommend having the parents be apart of important decisions regarding their child and maybe even have a space where parent can come in, watch, and check on their child without causing disruption and distracting the child.
    8. Louis Torelli says that inappropriate equipment allows children to explore their abilities to climb and move around which makes it very unsafe. The teacher consistently has to redirect the child, space is potentially unsafe, and its exhausting for caregivers to continuously redirect children.

    1. Aalyah — you picked on the importance of safety in environments — not just physical safety but emotional safety too! Facilitating relationships with adults and peers is crucial in infant classrooms. Welcoming spaces for families enables staff to begin the process of developing relationships with families!

  4. What is a primary social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers? A primary social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers is to develop a sense of trust and security in their environments and with the people who take care of them.
    1.What does Louis Torelli say that well-designed environments can provide to infants and toddlers? Well-designed environment is important because it affects how children learn, and how teachers teach. well-designed environments, children have a sense of security, they feel comfortable, it feels intimate, it supports individual and small-group learning as well as pro-social interaction.
    2.What can teachers do to create learning environments that are home like? Teachers can create culture like activities and use fabrics and textiles that are similar to the child’s culture. They can also ask parents to bring a special blanket that they use at home and with parents permission hang a photo of their family in the classroom.
    3.What can teachers do to create environments that are safe? Doing daily safety checks, make sure that furniture and equipment are appropriately sized for infants and toddlers and in good condition. Put mats on surfaces and under equipment where children are learning to move and climb.
    4.What can teachers do to create environments that are comfortable? Add large floor cushions or soft child size furniture. Make sure there is space for you and family members to join children in play.
    5.What can teachers do to create environments that allow babies to move freely and explore? Make sure furniture and equipment is arranged so that there is adequate space for active movement and play and keep materials kept materials in consistent places so that children and adults know where to find them
    6.What can teachers do to create comfortable space for adults? Having a functional area for adults with comfortable furniture like a loveseat, a small chair, as well as pillows and stuff just so that the adults in the space feel more comfortable.
    7.What does Louis Torelli say are effects of inappropriate equipment on babies and adults? Louis Torelli explains inappropriate equipment is unsafe for children and teachers and adults have to continue to redirect the children which is exhausting for them.

    1. Erica — Bringing in each child’s culture into the classroom is important in our work with infants! We want to embrace each family’s culture, as well as help children and families to maintain and continue to develop their identity as a member of their heritage culture. Just thinking about supporting individualism and collectivism (as part of cultural identity) is tough — so adding individual cultures requires work!

  5. 1. What is a primary social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers? – Is to develop a sense of trust and security in their environments and with the people who take care of them.
    2. What does Louis Torelli say that well-designed environments can provide to infants and toddlers? – It provides security to babies, it supports individual, small group learning and prosocial interaction. Children in well-designed environments have a sense of control. It also encourages exploration. It supports self directed learning, small group interaction and also reduces aggressiveness.
    3. What can teachers do to create learning environments that are home like? – Using textiles and fabrics common to the families culture, for curtains, blankets and table cloth. Incorporate familiar cultural items like toys, musical instruments and art work. Ask families to provide you with empty food containers or clothing items such as hats, vests, and bandanas for pretend play with children. With families permission, teachers could display photos of the families. Children can look at those photos on an eye level and also in books with teachers.
    4. What can teachers do to create environments that are safe? – Making sure that furniture and equipments are appropriately sized for babies and in good condition. Put mats on surfaces and under equipment where children are learning to move and climb.
    5. What can teachers do to create environments that are comfortable? – Add large floor cushions or soft child sized furniture. Make sure there is space for teachers and family members to join the kids for play.
    6. What can teachers do to create environments that allow babies to move freely and explore? – Furniture and equipments should be arranged in a way that there is enough space for active movement and play. Children should easily reach toys and materials. There should be multiple of popular toys. And toy, books and other materials should be kept in consistent places so that it is easy for children and parents to find them.
    7. What can teachers do to create comfortable space for adults? – Louis Torelli talks about socialization spaces in particular – adult sized comfortable seating , well organized storage areas for program materials and personal items, steps for children to climb on the changing table.
    8. What does Louis Torelli say are effects of inappropriate equipment on babies and adults? – Inappropriate equipments are safe for children and adults and teachers have to then redirect kids which becomes exhausting for them as well. Kids also feel that their ability to learn and move is prevented instead of promoted by their primary caregivers.

    1. Vavi — Using the environment to support guiding behavior can eliminate 1 stressor in our work! It’s hard to imagine planning for a space to promote autonomy that requires adults to redirect babies less. We want babies to be free to learn & explore, and to join in their activities! If we have to monitor what people can/ cannot do all day, it takes a lot of energy!

  6. 1. What is a primary social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers?
    The primary goal for infants and toddlers is to develop a sense of trust and security in their environment and with the people who take care of them.

    2. What does Louis Torelli say that well-designed environments can provide to infants and toddlers?
    It has a sense of security, feels comfortable, feels intimate, supports individual and small learning, prosocial, and a sense of control and exploration in their own environment. Supports self-directed learning.

    3. What can teachers do to create learning environments that are home like?
    warm welcoming nurturing environment. Using textiles and fabrics common to the children in culture, for blankets, curtains, and table cloths. Have cultural toys and musical instruments common to the infant and artwork. Ask for empty food containers, vests, family hats, bandanas for pretend play. Displaying family photos for children to see or placing them in a book.

    4. What can teachers do to create environments that are safe?
    Makings sure furniture are safe and level to the infant’s size. Placing carpets where infants are and under toys, they are playing with to make it safer for them to play in. Adding large floor cushions or soft child-size furniture and for caregivers and parents to use to play with their infant during play.

    5. What can teachers do to create environments that are comfortable?
    Having chairs, or love seats or pillows to create that living room warm feeling.

    6. What can teachers do to create environments that allow babies to move freely and explore?
    Have the furniture in places where infants can freely move around in and feel the space to explore. Have toys where the children can choose freely on their own.

    7. What can teachers do to create a comfortable space for adults?
    Having an adult size seat, a closet for program materials and personal items, have a children’s changing table.

    8. What does Louis Torelli say are the effects of inappropriate equipment on babies and adults?
    children get the message that self-exploration is prevented instead of promoting it.

  7. What is a primary social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers? Infants and toddler should be able to trust their caregiver and feel safe in their environment.
    What does Louis Torelli say that well-designed environments can provide to infants and toddlers? That children have a sense of security and it supports small group learning. Designed environments to help caregivers and having the space to do what’s needed supporting caregivers to interact.
    What can teachers do to create learning environments that are home like? Allow kids to bring a stuffed animal or a pillow from home so it can actually feel like home.
    What can teachers do to create environments that are safe? Placing toys and books where they can reach so they don’t have to climb anywhere .
    What can teachers do to create environments that are comfortable? Making sure that their play space is big enough and their seat space is comforted such as having a fluffy rug so it feels comfortable for them
    What can teachers do to create environments that allow babies to move freely and explore? Making sure there is enough room for babies to explore and having toys around for them to grab whenever also painting around so they look at them and point to what they see.
    What can teachers do to create a comfortable space for adults? Having a few high chairs so adults can feel comfortable to sit and make sure there’s a clean space for the adults.
    What does Louis Torelli say are effects of inappropriate equipment on babies and adults? He says that equipment that would put a child in danger is what we want to avoid. This would cause a teacher having to redirect a child constantly. And that’s tiring for teachers.

  8. 1. A primary social social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers is to learn all the way they can interact with others around them. Also they learn how to establish relationships of trust with their family and caregivers as they meet their needs.
    2. it supports individual and small group learning. it also provides a sense of security. It encourages children to explore,directive learning, and very important it also reduces aggressive behaviors.
    3.Teachers can make sure every day that children are safe, looking for possible furniture that its not arranged in a clever position in children area. See and make sure that the environment is clean and in good shape. so that there’s no hazardous materials around the children.
    4. Teachers can make sure children are walking/crawling over a soft mat where there is no chance they can get hurt. Also make use of pillows and furniture of the children’s size.
    5. Teachers can create an environment where everybody feels welcome and can share a nice moment.
    6. Teachers should arrange the classroom in a way that all the furniture is the size of the children and its also positioned in a way that is easy for the children to crawl and climb.
    7. Teachers could have a separate room from where the children are, with adult-size seats, a changing table, a place to storage their child supplies, maybe a coffee maker so they can chat with the stuff members and other parents and in this way they would feel more welcome, since its a nice place to be.
    8.He argues that we want to avoid in children that are not in a safe environment. As a consequence teacher would have to be on top of the children redirecting their attentions and thats a tiring thing to do. Especially when it can be easily avoided.

  9. What is a primary social and emotional goal for infants and toddlers? Infants and toddlers should be able to trust their caregiver.
    What does Louis Torelli say that well-designed environments can provide to infants and toddlers? Well designed environments is safe for the child and also the children can feel comfortable.
    What can teachers do to create learning environments that are home like? Teachers can speak to the parents and ask what do the child like to do at home and use the ideas and bring it to the daycare or school.
    What can teachers do to create environments that are safe? Teachers can make sure that the toys are always washed at the end of the day, Make sure that the furniture is where it needs to be .. Make sure the blankets are being washed.
    What can teachers do to create environments that are comfortable? Be friendly and always welcoming .. Which leads to family and infant feeling comfortable
    What can teachers do to create environments that allow babies to move freely and explore?Position furniture in a way that is good for the children
    What can teachers do to create comfortable space for adults? Create a space that is like home.. Comfortable chair .
    What does Louis Torelli say are effects of inappropriate equipment on babies and adults? Louis Torelli says that equipment that may leads to the child being in danger us adults need to avoid that.

Leave a Reply