Using the Environment to Support Children’s Engagement and Appropriate Behavior

by Jessica Hardy, Ph.D.

“Is it time for recess?”

“It’s my turn to be line leader!”

“Stop running!”

If any of these sounds familiar, consider how the classroom environment can be used to help. The classroom environment can play a powerful role in helping children understand and follow routines and expectations.  When children understand the routines and expectations of the classroom, they are less likely to engage in challenging behavior.

At our webinar, we help teachers answer four questions about their classroom environment:

(1) What does your space say?

(2) How does your day roll?

(3) What keeps things moving along?

(4) What is important for your room?

We ask those working in early childhood care and education to examine how the physical environment can communicate what the expectations are – and how to be sure the message is clear! We discuss how to create and teach predictable schedules and routines to set children – and adults – up for success.

Classroom activities may vary from room to room, but all classrooms have transitions, and the ability to move from one activity and into another smoothly can make or break your day. We share ways to make that happen!

There are behavioral expectations in every classroom, but sometimes they are not clear to children.  We’ll help participants develop and systematically teach classroom rules.

The webinar includes numerous examples and videos.  We also provide handouts and visuals you can download and use in your work, like the one below!

The archived recording of our webinar, Creating Space: Arranging Environments to Promote Positive Behavior as well as the referenced “Blueprint” handout, are available on the event page.