Title: Learning Environments, An Introduction
Description: Within this website, there is information for early childhood educators who would like to look more deeply at the environment they offer infants and toddler-aged children.
https://www.virtuallabschool.org/infant-toddler/learning-environments/lesson-1
Title: Resources for Infant/Toddler Learning Environments
Title: Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System
Description: Infants and toddlers learn about and experience life through sensory and motor explorations. They touch, taste, smell, observe, and move through the world around them to make sense of it. Children from birth to 3 years of age live directly through their senses. Therefore, the environment in which infants [and toddlers] are placed has a tremendous impact. -Lally, Steward, & Greenwald, 2009, pp. 1-2
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/infant-toddler-resource-guide/nurturing-environments-topic-overview
Title: Making Your Environment the "Third Teacher"
Description: Margie Carter and Deb Curtis provide strategies and tools for reflection on early childhood environments. Using this document, educators will reflect on their values as well as establish goals for their environments.
https://earlylearning.prn.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Environment-as-the-3rd-teacher.pdf
Title: Inspired by Reggio Emilia, Emergent Curriculum in Relationship-Driven Learning Environments
Description: If we want to promote the hunger of learning, then we should create environments in which students and teachers feel safe to venture beyond what is already known-environments that reflect our values and celebrate students and teachers as uniquely creative individuals.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/nov2015/emergent-curriculum
Title: Almost like Family
Description: The findings and conclusions from this study suggest that, whether they are called home-based providers or child care providers, it is abundantly clear that the participants in this home-based program study are not "babysitters" and that their work is not menial. Generally, the results of this study reveal that the services offered by participating providers are broad-based and reach both the adults and children in the family. Home-based/family child care providers are, by and large, those individuals who provide care for America's youngest and most vulnerable population. Home-based providers, like others who provide early care and education to young children, deserve the public respect and regard afforded to those who help build strong families, communities, and society as a whole.
https://uwyo.instructure.com/?login_success=1
Title: Guidelines for Early Learning in Childcare Home Settings
Description: Realizing that many children receive their care and education in home-based settings, the CDE developed Guidelines for Early Learning Child Care Home Settings, specifically for family child care and exempt providers. This document covers the same topics as those covered in pre-kindergarten guidelines, but it also addresses the specific concerns that home-based care providers face every day as they strive to nurture and teach the children in their care. Additionally, it addresses the reality that many family child care and license-exempt providers serve infants and toddlers side-by-side with pre-school aged children.
https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/documents/elguidelineshome.pdf
Title: Multi-Age Caregiving
Description: There is evidence of benefits to both children and adults when children miss with others of different ages (see Katz, 1990). The accumulated evidence of mixing ages throughout the elementary school years indicates that while there are no strong academic benefits, there are consistent social benefits in the form of important life skills. However, during the preschool years, research indicates several advantages to children's social and intellectual development, as well as to the adults who care for and teach them.
http://www.ccie.com/library_bw/8212400.pdf
Title: Creating Early Learning Spaces for Multi-Age Groups
Description: Designing and creating engaging early learning spaces for children of different ages can be a challenge, but today I want to share a few simple strategies to make the process easier for both parents and educators. It is certainly worth a little extra effort into setting up your play and learning spaces whether at home or in another childcare environment. Not only will it make life less stressful for you as an educator or parents (or both!) it will provide many opportunities for children to explore and play as they need to without constant cries of 'Don't touch that' or 'No!' following them around the room, squashing that wonderful desire that children innately have to try something new or challenge themselves.
https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/2016/06/create-early-learning-spaces.html/
Title: Managing Mixed Age Groups
Description: High quality 'mix-aged group' care, can enhance children'snd emotional development. In 'mix-aged group' settings children have opportunities to lead, instruct, assume responsibilities, and nurture others. As they model appropriate behaviors, offer leadership, and support less mature and knowledgable group members, they also strengthen their own skills. Through shared activities, experiences, and interactions older children learn empathy and patience. They also develop healthy self-esteem and have opportunities to develop healthy self-esteem and experience things through their peer's perspectives.
http://www.eccpct.com/Resources/Family-Daycares/Tips-for-Tots/Managing-Mixed-Age-Groups/
Title: Strategies for Working with Mixed-Age Groups in Early Childhood Education
Description: There is no doubt that multi-age groupings can beneficial to children. teachers can also find great joy in teaching classrooms that feature multiple age groups. They may enjoy the variety that comes with interacting with children at different levels of development. The deep attachments that grow over the years enhance both parties in the child-teacher relationship.
Title: Some Benefits of Multi-Age Grouping
Description: A list of the benefits of multi-age groupings in early childhood.
http://www.uwyo.edu/ecec/_files/documents/multi-age-benefits.pdf
Title: Family Child Care at Home, Creative Spaces for Children to Learn
Description: Create a warm and inviting space where children feel at home. Discover the many ways your home can provide a comfortable place where children love to learn and love to be.
https://www.redleafpress.org/Family-Child-Care-Homes-Creative-Spaces-for-Children-to-Learn-P351.aspx
Title: This is Play
Description: Slow down, tune in, and discover the purposeful play of infants and toddlers. Addressing considerations like choosing interesting materials, setting safe and inviting environments, and why you are the most important element of play for young children.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/books/this-is-play
Title: Designs for Living and Learning
Description: Even more ideas to create captivating environments that nurture children, families, and staff while supporting children's' learning! With hundreds of all-new colorful photographs of real early learning settings and a multitude of simple and practical concepts for creative indoor and outdoor spaces and learning materials, this book is truly a source of inspiration as you learn how to shape welcoming spaces where children can learn and grow.
Title: Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight
Description: In this easy-to-read resource, pre- and in-service teachers get practical help with designing play-based learning environments that ensure effective teaching and learning while meeting national and state standards. The book presents basic ind=formation and environmental and curricular possibilities through numerous examples, photos, and videos that demonstrate early childhood theories, child development, current research, and curriculum standards and outcomes in action.