Children are raised in many different environments today. Some people run child care services at home, some run them at a facility. Regardless of location, appropriate environments for the children are important, especially for toddlers. Toddlers are children from twelve months to thirty-six months of age (Gestwicki, 2014). Toddlers love to move around. At this age, they have not discovered playing in groups. It is the job of the caregiver to encourage and guide the children to developing social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and language skills while in a positive and appropriate learning environment. The toddler’s learning environment must be safe. “Safety is freedom from danger, harm, and loss” (Koralek, 2005, p. 1). Caregivers
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Gross motor skills are “movements that involve the use of large muscles, the entire body, or large parts of the body, for example, running, hopping, or climbing” (Koralek, 2005, p. 420). Toddlers naturally want to climb (Gestwicki, 2014). Without proper climbing equipment, such as a climber/slide combination, toddlers may feel inclined to climb tables, chairs, and shelves. With proper climbing equipment present, caregivers can redirect toddlers to explore climbing while reducing the risk of injury (Gestwicki, 2014). The physical environment should also provide opportunity for toddlers to develop their fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are “movements that involve the use of small muscles, for example, using hands and wrists to pick up puzzle pieces or to cut with a pair of scissors” (Koralek, 2005, p. 420). There are a variety of toys that will help toddlers develop their fine motor skills. Some foods, such as apple slices, help toddlers develop fine motor skills as …show more content…
Cognitive is “related to the process of knowing, thinking, [and] learning” (Gestwicki, 2014, p. 439). One way to help toddlers develop their cognitive skills is to provide activities that encourage curiosity, exploration, and discovery (CDA, 2013). Sand and water play provides sensorimotor experiences (Gestwicki, 2014). Sensorimotor is the first stage in cognitive development where toddlers use their senses and manipulative abilities to
Gross motor skills are “movements that involve the use of large muscles, the entire body, or large parts of the body, for example, running, hopping, or climbing” (Koralek, 2005, p. 420). Toddlers naturally want to climb (Gestwicki, 2014). Without proper climbing equipment, such as a climber/slide combination, toddlers may feel inclined to climb tables, chairs, and shelves. With proper climbing equipment present, caregivers can redirect toddlers to explore climbing while reducing the risk of injury (Gestwicki, 2014). The physical environment should also provide opportunity for toddlers to develop their fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are “movements that involve the use of small muscles, for example, using hands and wrists to pick up puzzle pieces or to cut with a pair of scissors” (Koralek, 2005, p. 420). There are a variety of toys that will help toddlers develop their fine motor skills. Some foods, such as apple slices, help toddlers develop fine motor skills as …show more content…
Cognitive is “related to the process of knowing, thinking, [and] learning” (Gestwicki, 2014, p. 439). One way to help toddlers develop their cognitive skills is to provide activities that encourage curiosity, exploration, and discovery (CDA, 2013). Sand and water play provides sensorimotor experiences (Gestwicki, 2014). Sensorimotor is the first stage in cognitive development where toddlers use their senses and manipulative abilities to