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Introducing Caring for Children and Young People
Features of a positive environment and links to young children’s development
Features of a positive environment Links to young children’s development
Indoor and outdoor space for both This supports physical development,
noisy, active play and quiet play. with space to crawl, run, jump, and
Outside there should be toys, such as climb.
bikes, for children to use.
Children can develop gross motor skills,
There needs to be space to run around, balance and co-ordination.
and places to rest and sleep.
Rest is also important for physical
Quiet spaces allow children to rest and growth.
sleep.
Children need space to be active every
The outdoor space should have shade day and should be able to spend time
from the sun and shelter from rain, so outdoors, as this supports gross motor
that children can be outside whatever skills in particular.
the weather.
These can also help physical
Play materials which can be used in development – playing with dough
different ways – dough, cardboard, needs gross and fine motor skills.
dressing up clothes, and cooking Dressing up clothes can develop
utensils, such as mixing bowls and imagination (intellectual development)
wooden spoons. and also encourage language and
social development.
Opportunities for children to be This helps children to learn new
independent – toys which babies skills such as doing up fasteners and
can reach for themselves, dressing develop fine motor skills (physical
up clothes which children can put on development). Dressing up encourages
themselves. independence and confidence, which
supports emotional development.
Toys and games which children can Children can learn to share and take
play with together too. turns (social development).
Activities and resources such as story A variety of good quality activities
books, paper and crayons, counting and resources will encourage
games and shape puzzles. early language and mathematical
skills (language and intellectual
development).
Adults who care for the children and Adults can support all areas of
understand child development and children’s development – planning and
how to plan activities for children. playing games with them for physical,
social or intellectual development,
involving them in routine tasks such as
tidying up (emotional development),
talking to them and asking questions
(language development).
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