Young children develop at an incredible pace during their first three years. Early years settings have to support the initial growth spurts experienced in the first 18 months of a child's life and prepare the groundwork for the equally fast progress right up to a child's third birthday. Practitioners need to:
The space
As children become confident walkers they require extended space to wander about in. They begin to enjoy the act of moving from one focused area to another. It is particularly important to make the outdoors as accessible as the indoors at all times.
The opportunity to move freely indoors and out will help satisfy young children's interest and curiosity, and should reduce incidents of frustration or confrontation that can lead to temper tantrums.
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