Humanizing Child Care: The Child Centered Floor Plan

Humanizing Child Care: The Child Centered Floor Plan

In reviewing both examples of the child care program’s indoor floor plan and the outdoor floor plan, it is obvious that too many children are being placed together in both environments.  Although the layouts may perhaps comfortable for older children, these floor plans are not appropriate for the young child in need of highly individualized care, in one on one to small group settings.  Modern child care philosophy is more and more apt to recognize the special needs of younger children in regard to the high level of sensitive attention required for the children to develop adequate levels of attachment, best described by the theorist Bowlby, to their caregivers.  If a child’s mother or other familial caregiver is not able to care for the young child oneself, then the very best second option is child care in a one on one setting between a child care program caregiver and child or a small group setting with the caregiver only providing care for a small number of children (Harms).

The center for drama, media center, snack area, and group gathering space are all wonderful ideas for a classroom, however, judging primarily from the number of tables, too many children are expected to receive care together in too small of a space from the teacher and aide provided.  A better situation would be an area of space perhaps the same size as the classroom layout provided or even larger, incorporating several separate rooms, like a true homelike environment, with a reduction in the number of young children, providing intimacy and an individualized focus.  In the outdoor area, the layout provided also appears to desire to entertain too many children at one time in one area, lacking intimacy and personal attention, and may incorporate potentially dangerous equipment, such as the jungle gym and monkey bars, which is more appropriate for an older child.  Also, any basketball court would certainly need to be constructed on a small scale.  Just like an indoor plan, an outdoor plan must first and foremost be centered on the needs of the child, providing individualized intimacy and care supportive of adequate oversight and attachment to the caregiver.

Works Cited

Harms, Thelma. (1994). “Humanizing Infant Environments for Group Care.” Children, Youth and Environments 11(2): 118-136. Retrieved March 4, 2009 from http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/.

Revised Indoor Class Layout (Four Rooms)

Child to Teacher Ratio Maximum – 5:1, Children in 4 Room Class Area – Maximum 10

Room 1

Rest and sleeping room:

Comfortable nap beds,

Soft music or wind chimes

Rocking chair,

Windows with parting curtains, dark shade

Darker or Relaxing Décor

Room 2

Bathroom:

Small Toilets

Small Showers,

Indoor Play Pool or Warm Tub,

High level, frosted, or curtained windows

Relaxing Décor

Room 3

Discovery Room:

Small centers for Theater,

Science,

Arts and Crafts,

Media

Windows with parting curtains, light shade

Bright Décor

Room 4

Snack Room and Storage Area:

One or two tables,

Sink, counters, safe cooking/heating area,

Shelves and cabinets,

Windows with parting curtains, light shade

Bright Décor

Revised Outdoor Yard Layout (One Yard)

Child to Teacher Ratio Maximum 5:1, Children in Yard – Maximum 10

Sand and Water Area:

Sand/beach area for digging and building

Small pool or sprinkler area for water fun,

Several relaxing lounge chairs

Music or wind chimes,

Trees and bushes

Run/Roller Area:

Padded court / track / grass field

For tricycles / scooters,

Skating / running,

Tag / hide and seek,

Trees and bushes

Sports Area:

Small softball/soccer grass field,

Small basketball padded court,

Small volleyball/badminton padded court, or

Small croquet or mini golf field grass area, etc.

Trees & bushes

Garden Area:

Area for small scale gardening or farming,

Plants, herbs, vegetables,

Safe and well cared for animals,

Flower garden,

Green house,

Tool/storage shed