5 Tips On Designing Learning Spaces At Home

This notion of the use of the environment to extend and challenge children’s learning and thinking was brought into awareness by the schools and educators of Reggio Emilia. Other educators such as Maria Montessori emphasized on an environment that nurtures children’s independence through child-sized furniture and thoughtful placement of materials at the child’s level, readily accessed when needed to. Rudolf Steiner called for the importance of open-ended play with resources chosen because they can be used in many ways. All of these values have helped shaped many of the classrooms in early childhood environments.

Taking the values from above, how then can you create innovative learning spaces for your child at home?

3. Be intentional.

Every learning space and every resource should serve a purpose. Ask yourself, “What is the purpose … (of this or that)?” Our respect for spaces and materials serves as a role model for children. Similarly, clutter communicates the lack thereof. Support the children as they help to clean up the space after use. It is important for children to know where things go. Children have a right to be in spaces that are aesthetically pleasing.

Collect beautiful and diverse art pieces, pretend play props and other learning resources and create spaces where children can interact with them. Remember to label all spaces and outline and print the rules or agreements on the use of the different spaces and resources. Not only will the environmental print enhance reading competence in your children, it will also reinforce social skills when siblings and peers are involved.

4. Use open-ended resources.

Source: 5 Tips on Designing Learning Space at Home