What You Will See in a Developmentally Appropriate Toddler Room….
- Loving and nurturing exchanges
- Frequent, respectful, and responsive interactions
- Babies dictating their own schedules
- Acceptance of individual differences and rates of development
- Attempts to communicate acknowledged and reinforced
- Children not made to feel badly, with no negative comments related to bodily functions
- Babies talked to about what is happening to them, and what is going to happen to them, and what they are feeling
- Presence of music and laughter
- Stimulation provided, based on individual needs
- Children not confined or restricted, free to explore
- “No†is eliminated by the childproofing of the room
- Age-appropriate expectations – Ex. Acceptance that children of this age will dump toys out, will be messy when they eat, don’t share……
- Children are encouraged to explore and to learn new things
- Feeding time is a pleasurable exchange, with the caregivers focus being on the child
- Diapering viewed as an opportunity to interact and bond
- Children get “floor time†with an adult sitting by them – Interacting, Reading, and doing simple games and activities
- Frequent smiles and affection given by caregivers
- Crying toddlers acknowledged, and if teacher is busy, told that they will be taken care of as soon as possible; children’s feelings validated
- Multi-cultural items reflected throughout the environment
- Cues taken from children; physical needs acknowledged
- Pictures of the children and their families present; Pictures of real objects vs. cartoon characters
- Role of the family is acknowledged and respected, with good, open, two-way communication about the child and his/her development and needs