“Like father, like son,” “Learning from peers is better than from books,” “A straight tree is not afraid of standing upright” – these proverbs and idioms highlight the importance of the environment for everyone’s development. And for preschoolers, the future generation of the country, the physical environment in preschools plays an extremely important role. It’s like a gentle cradle, nurturing young sprouts, helping them develop comprehensively in terms of physical, intellectual, emotional, and social aspects.
What is the Physical Environment in Preschool?
The physical environment in preschool encompasses all material elements surrounding children, including:
- Facilities: Places where children learn, play, and live: classrooms, playgrounds, dining rooms, bedrooms, function rooms, etc.
- Equipment: Tables, chairs, toys, learning tools, sound and lighting equipment, …
- Landscape and greenery: Flowers, plants, gardens, etc.
The Importance of the Physical Environment in Preschool
The physical environment in preschool is a top priority, contributing to:
- Creating favorable conditions for children’s comprehensive development: A safe, clean, airy, and fully equipped environment helps children develop physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially in the best way.
- Supporting teachers in teaching and caring for children: A well-equipped and modern environment helps teachers easily organize learning activities and care for children effectively.
- Creating a good impression on parents and society: A beautiful and modern preschool environment reflects the professionalism and dedication of the school, thereby increasing prestige, attracting parents, and improving the quality of preschool education.
Criteria for Building a Physical Environment in Preschool
According to preschool education expert Professor Nguyen Thi Mai, author of the book “Preschool Education: Key to the Future”: “Building a physical environment in preschool needs to ensure 5 criteria:”
1. Safety:
- Classroom spaces, playgrounds, and function rooms are designed to be safe for children, without sharp corners, steep steps, easily broken objects, etc.
- Equipment ensures safety, has quality certification, and does not pose a danger to children.
- Regularly inspect and maintain equipment, and repair promptly when necessary.
2. Cleanliness:
- Classrooms, playgrounds, and function rooms are always kept clean and airy.
- Equipment and toys are cleaned and disinfected regularly, ensuring food hygiene and safety.
- There is a drainage system and proper waste disposal, ensuring a green, clean, and beautiful environment.
3. Aesthetics:
- Classroom and playground spaces are beautifully decorated, creating a cheerful and comfortable feeling for children.
- Use bright colors and vivid images suitable for the psychology of the age group.
- The surrounding landscape of the school is arranged harmoniously and beautifully, creating a feeling of closeness to nature.
4. Convenience:
- Classrooms and function rooms are fully equipped: tables and chairs suitable for children’s height, diverse toys, modern teaching equipment, good sound and lighting systems, etc.
- There is a clean water supply, telephone, internet, etc. to serve children’s learning and living activities.
5. Age Appropriateness:
- Design space, decoration, toys, learning tools, etc., suitable for the psychological and physiological characteristics of preschoolers.
- Build learning and playing corners suitable for children’s needs and interests.
A Story About the Preschool Environment
Ms. Minh, a teacher at Hoa Sen preschool, shared a story about a kindergarten girl named An. An was very active, liked to run and jump, and was often mischievous. One day, An was running and jumping in the playground when she unfortunately tripped and fell, scraping her leg. Ms. Minh immediately took An to the medical room, disinfected the wound, and bandaged it for An. An was in pain and scared, crying loudly. Ms. Minh gently comforted An, showed her cute animal pictures on the wall, and told An a story about a baby rabbit who got lost from its mother and found its way home with the help of friends.
After listening to the story, An gradually calmed down, and a smile returned to her face. Ms. Minh skillfully guided An on how to stay safe while playing. From then on, An became more careful when running and jumping, no longer as mischievous as before. An’s story shows us the importance of a safe environment, helping children develop healthily, happily, and confidently.
Building a Physical Environment in Preschool: A Spiritual Perspective
According to Vietnamese spiritual beliefs, preschool is a place to nurture future generations, so spiritual factors need to be emphasized. The learning environment needs to be designed according to Feng Shui, creating harmony and balance, helping children develop comprehensively. The arrangement of classrooms, playgrounds, and function rooms needs to ensure light and ventilation, avoiding hidden corners, creating a feeling of safety and comfort for children.
Advice for Parents
To ensure your child learns and plays in the best environment, parents should:
- Research carefully about the preschool your child attends, especially about the physical environment.
- Regularly communicate with teachers about your child’s learning and living situation.
- Work with the school to build a safe, clean, beautiful, and convenient learning environment for children.
- Participate in school activities and contribute ideas to help the school improve further.
Conclusion
The physical environment in preschool plays an important role in shaping children’s personalities and comprehensive development. Building a physical environment that ensures safety, cleanliness, aesthetics, convenience, and age-appropriateness is essential to create the best conditions for children to thrive.
Please share this article with everyone and join hands to build a better preschool environment for future generations!
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