Designing Early Learning Environments

This collection of videos and resources provides ideas and guidance on intentionally preparing the learning environment to help support healthy development.

This article by an experienced teacher explains that a classroom should be an environment where children are able to feel successful through opportunities to explore without the limitations of adult expectations.

This article provides information on best practices for creating infant and toddler environments. It can help those who are setting up an infant and toddler child care space for the first time and those working to enhance the current environment.

This video provides an inside look into a preschool learning environment during a typical day. This classroom uses the pyramid model practices for social emotional learning.

This free online professional development module, a DEC-recommended resource, offers information on how to set up effective inclusive early childhood classroom environments for young children.

This collection of articles and videos from Head Start gives educators ideas on how to create and improve nurturing spaces that support the development of all young children.

This short article provides guidance to teachers on how to set up the classroom environment to meet children’s needs for movement and sensory exploration.

This free online course helps teachers plan engaging interest areas and also addresses how indoor and outdoor spaces are designed to support learning. In this course, teachers learn how to select developmentally appropriate materials, and how to create a flexible, but predictable, classroom schedule.

This provides links to a video series focused on early literacy, dual language learners, science, math, social-emotional learning, and strategies for early childhood education.

This article provides an overview of six areas for teachers to focus on to help children learn best.