Eyes on Early Years 7 | Page 6

What is an Enabling Environment? By: Sophie Booth Enabling environments is a term that is often used in the early years, it is essential that you are aware of effect the environment has on children’s development and how to create an enabling environment in your own setting. The environments where children play and learn have an instrumental role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning. It is essential that when children come into the setting they have are comfortable and feel safe and secure, both physically and emotionally. In an enabling environment children are able to explore and investigate their setting and discover what they can see, hear, touch, move and change. An enabling environment needs variety and opportunities for meaningful play and positive interactions with other children and adults. It is essential that children’s independence is fostered and curiosity is encouraged to promote children’s learning. When creating an enabling environment the child should be at the centre of the process and their development needs and play interest should be considered. An enabling environment should offer children an assortment of different areas for play, a quiet space to relax, and space to move freely. Resources should be age appropriate yet still provide challenge and stimulation. If you would like to learn more about the impact of the environment on a child’s learning and development and discover how to create a successful learning environment in your setting join us at for our CPD on the 30th August. For more information please contact us at [email protected] or visit our website eyes-me.com to learn more about our upcoming training. O ffice 2606 | Ta m e e m H o u s e | B a r s h a H e i g hts | D u ba i Ph on e : +971 4 2766737 | a d m in @ eyes- m e.co m | a d m i n @ qu e s t-me. e d u c ati o n | w w w. e ye s -me. co m | w w w. qu e s t- me. e d uc ati on