Infants and Toddlers Infants and Toddlers EnvironmentEnvironment

Eight Factors TO ConsiderEight Factors TO Consider

• HealthHealth• SafetySafety• ComfortComfort• ConvenienceConvenience• Child SizeChild Size• FlexibilityFlexibility• MovementMovement• ChoiceChoice

HealthHealth

• Keep the diaper changing area far Keep the diaper changing area far apart from the feeding areaapart from the feeding area

• Wash hands regularly—always Wash hands regularly—always before and after diapering each before and after diapering each child and always before preparing child and always before preparing foodfood

• Clean toys, floods, rugs, walls, and Clean toys, floods, rugs, walls, and baseboards regularlybaseboards regularly

SafetySafety

• Objects and fixtures with sharp Objects and fixtures with sharp edgesedges

• Fence in the outside play areaFence in the outside play area• Cover electrical outletsCover electrical outlets• Use low-pile carpets; they are Use low-pile carpets; they are

easier to clean and will not hide easier to clean and will not hide small objects that babies so often small objects that babies so often put in their mouthsput in their mouths

ComfortComfort

• A variety of natural light, lamps, A variety of natural light, lamps, and full-spectrum lighting rather and full-spectrum lighting rather than fluorescent lightsthan fluorescent lights

• A steady flow of fresh airA steady flow of fresh air• Display things that are pleasing to Display things that are pleasing to

the eye and have a calming effect the eye and have a calming effect on caregivers and very young on caregivers and very young childrenchildren

ConvenienceConvenience

• Have accessible storage placesHave accessible storage places• Place pay materials where children can Place pay materials where children can

reach easilyreach easily• Set up the environment for ease of Set up the environment for ease of

movement and visibility by placing movement and visibility by placing nonmovable equipment in corners of the nonmovable equipment in corners of the room and against the walls and keeping room and against the walls and keeping the middle of the space freethe middle of the space free

Child SizeChild Size

• Use tables and chairs that are low Use tables and chairs that are low and smalland small

• Hang mirrors and place easels at Hang mirrors and place easels at the eye level of an infant on the the eye level of an infant on the floorfloor

FlexibilityFlexibility

• Have equipment that is easy to Have equipment that is easy to movemove

MovementMovement

• Surfaces with a variety of texturesSurfaces with a variety of textures• Multilevel environments such as Multilevel environments such as

loftslofts

ChoiceChoice

• Free movement through the center Free movement through the center of a roomof a room

• Play with a variety of objects or Play with a variety of objects or materialsmaterials