Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education

Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

SETTING UP OF EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT - INDOOR

Child’s early learning plays a very significant role in the early childhood education
as well as development. The environment is referred to as the third teacher after
parents and educators because of its significance in early learning. The combination of
the space and framework in which a child grows, develops and learns can be termed as
learning environment, which can be indoor or outdoor. When setting up an indoor
learning environment one should be aware of the fact that a child spends major part of
the day indoors. Therefore, it is necessary that one should have the clarity about what
they want from the indoor setting and how they are going to set it. Consequently, some
questions to be asked and answered to be clear enough. What resources are available?
How to set up those resources? What is expected of children to learn? How to make
them learn? How to set up the environment in a beneficial way? How to engage
children? Hence, a set up to stimulate holistic development of the child is important. A
good set up props up the child through activities that provides hands on experience that
stimulates the holistic development, a combination of physical, emotional, social and
cognitive.
Designing or setting up of an indoor learning environment is influenced by the
teacher’s / facilitator’s / instructor’s attitudes, beliefs, values and way of teaching. For
example: if it is believed that children need constancy then the set may not be changed,
except for replacing or exchanging some toys and puzzles based on children’s interest.
If it is believed that, by habitual changes in the set up of indoor environment stimulates
children and keeps children occupied, rearrangement can be made regularly.
Supporting and sustaining a child’s holistic development holds the top most
priority when setting up a learning environment as per the program and curriculum.
Hence, it is important to set up the indoor learning environment by providing space for
play, construction / production / manufacture, creation, library, group activity and settling
down/quiet/calm areas. It is well understood that play and exploratory/investigative
learning with firsthand experience promotes child’s holistic development. Along with
these, it is very important for a facilitator to set up the indoor learning environment by

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Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education
Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

keeping in mind the child’s needs and interests as well as to encourage self help skills,
like placing water bottles, snacking/eating area, mats, hygiene area etc.
An indoor early learning environment is very significant, it’s a place where all
learning experiences take place, it’s a place where children feel safe and secured and
it’s a place that can be monitored easily for health and safety from potential hazards by
facilitating a safe, sound and harmless learning environment. The components of a
setting up of early indoor learning environment are many and vast, however there are
few vital dots to be followed on to make a sketch of to be features in an early indoor
learning environment to help along the way in setting up.
With this back drop the module on setting up of the indoor learning environment will
be taken further by understanding the following points
 Organizing early indoor learning environment
 Play areas: Arrangement of play materials
 Care giving area
 Area for group activities
 Areas for quiet time/to calm down/privacy:
 Storage and display area
 Learning spaces in an indoor set up
 Provocation for engagement in learning
 Age appropriate materials and equipments

Learning outcomes
 Recognize the concept of learning environment and the importance of indoor
learning environment
 Comprehend the need for setting up an indoor early learning environment for
holistic development of children
 Review the resources available and how to use them to set up a stimulating
indoor learning environment
 Analyze the indoor set up to make it beneficial in engaging children to learn and
develop holistically.

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Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education
Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

 Creating a good indoor set up and designing indoor activities that provides
children hands on experience for stimulating holistic development

Organizing early indoor learning environment

To set up an early indoor learning environment the space and furnishings comes
together which has to be custom made to fulfill the needs of developing children as they
require continues monitoring, guidance and exciting experiences at this stage of rapid
growth and development.

Play areas: bearing in mind the material space of play area, a space has to be
designed such that it is not too packed neither too open. Children in their growing up
years need adequate and shielded space to achieve the abilities and skills through free
movements. At this early childhood age children are mobile, they would want to
investigate and explore the space around them and learn to walk, run, roll, crawl, dance,
jump, hop etc. It is important that the play area should be accommodative for both
active and quiet play such as building blocks, solving puzzles etc. The indoor play area
that is well planned and executed will be organized to provide both physical and mental
stimulations as well as maintain both individual and group play.
Arrangement of play materials
Play space should be well planned and prepared to arrange play materials.
When arranging play materials, it is important to make it child friendly, meaning, it
should be structured well so that it is easy for the children to know where the things are
and where to put them away. One should think about making separate or different areas
or corners or centers for each kind of play.
A few tips to arrange play materials
 A specific time for the play – the time schedule can be made in such a way that
the child gets a chance to explore every kind of play in a week. For example, a
time table where a specified time is given to explore and experience two kinds of
play in their daily schedule.

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Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education
Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

 A specific place – the child should get a specific place to sit comfortably and play
with a mat, pillow or cushion would be supportive
 It would be more loved if a place for displaying child’s name or a picture; so that
the children feel happy to find their names and pictures in that particular play
area and it would be a kind of indication for the children to understand that it is
this play that they are supposed to play for that day. So, this can be on rotation
for all the children during their play time. This set up will help children to cultivate
a habit to find and identify their names or pictures in a play space and start to
play with whatever they are assigned with for that day.
 Areas of play in indoor can be very stimulating for the child’s overall
development. It includes various activities such as
 block play for building constructing etc,
 dramatic play with dolls, stuffed toys etc,
 sensory activities where there is application - judgments, thinking etc,
 arts and crafts, creativity with painting, sticking, mapping etc,
 fine motor activity like lacing, buttoning, sorting activities, puzzles etc,
 gross motor activity with space for riding toy vehicles, climbing,
balancing etc,
 reading area with a quiet, calm and relaxed atmosphere with pillows or
armchairs, book shelves according to children’s accessibility with age
appropriate books.
 writing area, with appropriate materials for writing, notepads, paper, slate
and chalk, pencils, along with comfortable furniture like a small table with
chairs
 a free play and resting area with soft toys and stuffed toys.

Care giving area: The care givers too need space for the activities that they have to do
for children. The care giving activities such as eating and feeding, sleep and rest,
toileting, cleaning, changing of clothes, along with welcoming and see off every day.
These activities need various equipments like tables, chairs, racks for storage, sink etc.
These care giving areas also gives learning experience to the children as it promotes

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Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education
Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

self help skills. For instance, a child can bring his own clothes from the racks by
identifying that these clothes belong to me or they are mine and children who can eat by
themselves develop fine-motor skills, children who can climb the chair and table
develop gross motor skills, washing their hands in sink groom the children for a
accustomed activity for habit formation. Hence, when planning the care giving area, it is
important to ensure that the area is safe, stimulating to learn and clean for a healthy
growth and development of children.

Area for group activities: it is well understood that children during their early childhood
years learn through exploration, investigation, interaction and imitation. Group activities
are one such experience for growing children to groom their abilities of exploration,
investigation, interaction and imitation as well as preparing them for learning to live with
community and it is the influential step towards socialization. For example, a brief
session for group activities will make children to share their thoughts and ideas as well
as learn from others. Group activities even help children in their motor skills where they
imitate each other by making actions in songs, rhymes etc. Group activities make
children aware of different languages, words, sounds etc.
Hence, making a space exclusively for group activities in indoor learning
environment will expose children to vast experience, and planning the indoor space in
such a way that it reduces the disturbance, disruption and diversion for the group
activities can aid in making the most out it. Thus, it is all about having sufficient area for
all the children to come together as a group at ease, so that the children can have a
larger group experience.

Areas for quiet time/to calm down/privacy: it is a natural human tendency that
everybody needs a quiet time, to be on their own self. Being with people continuously
will be exhausting emotionally and it is true in case of children in early childhood years
as they are in the process of emotional development and they would not be in a position
to control their emotions and calm down. Therefore, it is important to provide a space for
privacy, to take some time off from the group. So, there is a need for the space, for
example, a corner with a bed, pillows or a corner with soft toys or book corner or a quiet

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Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education
Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

play time in a space privately, which would help children to calm down. This space will
help children to learn emotional regulation. These private areas or spaces can be
designed by creating nooks and corners with pure fabrics ensuring visibility to monitor
the child’s safety.

Storage and display area: it is well known that early childhood classrooms requires
many materials of various kinds viz toys to play like vehicles, fruits, vegetables, animals,
birds, houses etc., game equipments like puzzle, abacus, snake and ladder etc., books
and materials for reading and writing like slate etc., picture books and other resources
for first hand information that are habitually in and out for active use. Along with these
materials, children’s assessment equipments and art/creative work too require storage
and display area. Hence it is important to plan the storage and display area keeping in
mind all the above mentioned materials and equipments. Dodge et al 2010 explains
about three types of storage areas namely a) open storage, b) closed storage, c)
storage for personal belongings
 Open Storage: open storage enables convenience and is easy for access. The
materials that are in active use are stored in open storage. The open storage
should be made using shelves. These shelves should be labeled as per the
materials placed for trouble-free accessibility. The open storage can also be for
children to access.
 Closed Storage: closed storage is for teachers/facilitators materials. The
important aspect in closed storage is to maintain records, registers, accounts,
office supplies, stock etc. also it is very useful in storing cleaning materials like
detergents, lotions and other fluids so that they are out of reach of children, thus
closed storage ensures children’s safety. Likewise cooking utensils and
ingredients should be stored secularly in closed storage. Hence, closed storage
ensures safety and security.
 Personal Storage: personal storage area is a space for storing personal
belongings of children as well as teachers/facilitators and other personnel. This
personal storage should be labeled with pictures and words; for instance, a child
will identify his storage area with his picture in that particular space or the first

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Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education
Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

two alphabets of the child’s name to be written and pasted which will help the
child to indentify his/her space. These personal storage spaces allow children to
easily access their stuff like their clothes, blankets, shoes, gloves, socks, towels,
napkins, bags etc. and most importantly this storage space gives a sense of
belonging to the child with the center and it also helps in the routine of dropping
and picking up of children. This personal storage area gives a sense of autonomy
also to the children since they themselves access the space.
Similarly, for the teachers/facilitators and other personnel can store their
stuff/things so that they are out of reach of children. Their objects like hand bags,
purses, and items that are considered to be unsafe for children such as
medicines, mobile phones, make up materials can be stored and kept safe.

Display: displaying children’s art/creative activities and their other works, portfolios
makes children happy and encourages children to value their work in turn motivates
them to perform and do their tasks more efficiently and effectively. Displaying tells
children that their individuality is identified and their work, tasks and ideas are
appreciated and valued. This sense will help the facilitator to make a path to assess and
easily record the child’s development and progress. Thus, space and furnishing plays a
critical part for organizing indoor learning environment successfully.

Learning spaces in an indoor set up

An indoor set up which is called as a classroom should be attractive and pleasing
which provides a home like atmosphere. At the same time it has to be a place that
provides a developmentally appropriate environment that is necessarily flexible to
accommodate for the divergence and variance between each child’s capacities,
abilities, skills, interests and characteristics though the classroom has the required
stimulus for the stage of development the children are in.
Children can learn and develop optimally only when they like the place they are in.
They like the place when they feel they can be themselves and have a sense of
belonging. Hence, the classroom should convey the message for the children that it is
good place to be - home like. The outlook or the quality of the classroom is enhanced by

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Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education
Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

the way it is arranged. There are certain aspects to be considered while arranging the
classroom such as
 Furniture – comfortable, soft seating arrangement like a sofa or divan and chairs
 Good ventilation – lighting and proper supply of fresh air
 Proper lighting with lamps and tubes
 Beds, pillows, cushions
 Decorative items to make the room attractive
 Photos of children with their families and staff
 Display of children’s artwork using attractive handmade frames on the walls – a
way to make children know the place belongs to them
 Plants – harmless or nontoxic plants enhances the natural exquisiteness of the
classroom and also some paintings using neutral colours
Children spend several hours in a day in the classroom, it is important to make
them feel comfortable as well engaged. Hence, give children what they need. Planning
well ahead for the activities to be done will help the facilitator to keep the children
engaged indoors. An appropriate activity will avoid many unwanted, hazardous and
dangerous behaviours of children. Therefore a well designed indoor environment is very
important.
It is not only essential to make the children understand that this is a good place
to be, at the same time it is imperative to make them feel I can and I am. The
environment inside the classroom should communicate that this is the place where in I
can do things on my own and this place is reliable, I trust this place. By proper planning
and organizing the classroom in such a way that it promotes independence, simple and
easy use, an effective place can be made for learning and preparing the children for
learning.
Tips to make learning undisturbed and enjoyable
 The shelves where the classroom materials are kept should be accessible for
children, should be in child’s reach and they are easy to use
 Make labels for every item – can be a drawing, name or a picture
 Games and activity boards like puzzles, abacus etc should be stored at a place
where they can be used, should be handy

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Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education
Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

 Keep the play materials like dough, utensils, beads, balls etc (if there are) in trays
and transparent boxes so that children can carry and use them easily
 Define each child’s space for activity and play, also rotate the materials to
prevent confusion and cluttering so that they are undisturbed but have a focused
engagement
 Move around to support child’s interests, skills and learning goals.

Provocation for engagement in learning

While arranging indoor learning space it is important that children should be
provoked for thinking, interest, queries, creativity and finding out new things. Engaging
children in learning through provocation is noteworthy. Provocation provides
experience. So, the indoor learning environment or a classroom should be designed in a
way to add in provocations. It is quite an enormous task for the facilitator or a teacher
because they have to find out what provocations to be incorporated in the daily activities
which majorly depend on the child’s current interests and learning goals. Hence, the
design of the learning space should also provide room for incorporating provocation.
Provocations could be anything ranging from pictures, an event, experience, books,
nature, curiosity on displayed materials and changes in them.
 Pictures – using pictures of real objects
 An event – get together for a simple party in the class
 Experience – a walk in a park (flower park, butterfly park, trip to zoo or forest)
 Books – a book on current interests of children (a book on robots, book on new
fairy characters, book on new cartoon characters)
 Nature – anything from nature can be placed to provoke curiosity (a fresh flower
vase, different shape and size leaves, different leaves like fresh and dried, nuts,
seeds)
 Displayed materials – changes in displayed materials (modes of transportation –
display a mirror like water with some paper boats)
Provocations are a guide for how children can engage with certain resources or
materials. But if children ignore the provocations, it should understood that the particular

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Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education
Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

concept or idea do not interest children any more, as not every provocation interest’s
children. Hence, it is important to monitor children during their exploration process.

Age appropriate materials and equipments

Materials and equipments should be age appropriate. Choosing them is a very
crucial part of setting up a learning environment. Because these materials and
equipments will answer question about what the children are expected to learn? and
how to make them learn?. The materials should be stimulating the holistic development
of the child. They energetically explore the world around them and the materials and
equipments should increase the opportunity for learning and gain experience. For
instance, infants should develop movement skills, toddlers walking skills, preschoolers
mastering skills. The age appropriate materials and equipments should help children
master the overall skills viz physical, psychosocial and cognitive so that children
develop confidence in their abilities. Children during their early childhood tend to be very
outgoing and inventive they love playing, dancing, running, riding, creating as well.
Hence, there should be wide range of opportunities for active participation.
At the same time the equipment and materials should ensure safety. They should
be in good shape and strong. Toys or equipments should not have sharp and rough
edges, should not be broken pieces, should have tiny articles like buttons, nails, pins etc
that can harm the children and they pose a danger of being swallowed. The equipment
or a toy should be easy to clean, can be disinfected by hand. The materials and
equipments should be able to fulfill what the children are looking for, and safely find and
use them at any time of the day.

Conclusion
Meeting children’s need is very important. As the young ones have certain basic
needs that have to be catered to for a healthy and normal growth and development and
maturity. All they need is adults who are responsive, loving and caring. Together
providing opportunities to be mobile and play and support their learning. Now, these
needs are met in the classroom setting or an ECCE center. Hence, the environment
specially indoor should be rich in experience, play, teaching, people and children more

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Course Title: Early Childhood Care and Education
Name of the Content Writer: Dr. Ramya Bhaskar Module 19

than all a place which children can call their own. In spite of whatever is done, it is
important to think and do from child’s point of view, then everything will be better and
successful.

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