Environment

Our Environment

The concept of the environment as the “third teacher” refers to the idea that the physical environment plays a significant role in educating children, alongside teachers and parents. This concept originates from the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, emphasising the importance of the learning environment in fostering children’s development and learning. Here’s how the environment can serve as the “third teacher”: Whilst at Children’s Choice your child will thrive in our incredible indoor/outdoor environment, filled with natural resources, animals and equipment that will teach them independence and exploration. All of our rooms have been carefully designed and tailored to your child’s age range to give them days of endless adventure. Your child will be growing, learning and thriving whilst having so much fun along the way.

1. Inspiration and Engagement: Our thoughtfully designed environment will spark children’s curiosity and creativity. Filled with natural light, vibrant colours, open spaces, and stimulating materials which will inspire exploration and engagement in learning activities.
2. Encouraging Exploration and Discovery: Our environment offers various materials, objects, and spaces that prompt children to explore and discover. Natural elements, such as plants, water, sand, and diverse textures, provides all the children opportunities for sensory experiences and hands-on learning.
3. Promoting Collaboration and Communication: Our spaces that encourage collaboration, such as group work areas or our cosy corners for discussions,  foster communication and social interaction amongst thier classmates. It allows for the exchange of ideas, problem-solving, and cooperative learning.
4. Adaptable and Flexible Spaces: We often modify or rearrange our environments which allows flexibility in accommodating different learning activities and needs. It also encourages autonomy and decision-making among children regarding their learning environment.
5. Documentation of Learning: We like to use both our indoor/outdoor environment  as a canvas for documenting children’s learning processes. We display the children’s artwork, projects, and reflections on walls or boards within the environment creates a visible representation of their learning journey.
6. Natural and Sustainable Elements: We have a large focus on natural and sustainable materials and using them in both our indoor/outdoor environment, this aligns with the idea of respecting nature and the environment. It helps children develop an appreciation for the natural world and encourages environmental stewardship.
7. Comfort and Safety: A comfortable and safe environment is essential for effective learning. At Children’s Choice we take pride in hand picking age-appropriate materials, putting in all safety measures to create a secure space for exploration and learning.

We invite all our families to support us with their input on our environment as we want everybody recognise the environment as a powerful educator, educators and caregivers can intentionally design spaces that inspire and support children’s learning, creativity, and overall development. The environment, as the “third teacher,” plays a pivotal role in shaping children’s experiences and learning outcomes.