7.9: In Closing
The physical spaces, the tone we set, and the routines we follow will have a major impact on the children we work with. By planning based on their ages and stages, individual strengths and family, cultural and community backgrounds we can create warm, secure spaces where children can engage in all types of learning through play, take safe risks, and maximize their learning and development.
The environment is certainly a strong influence on a child’s experiences in our program; considered the “third teacher” with all that it offers. In the next and final chapter of this book, we will explore the child’s “first teacher”, the family, and the ways that we can collaborate to make the most of a child’s learning experiences between the child’s two most important worlds, home and school.