It is the responsibility of the society that we do the things for healthy growth and development of infants and children as the future citizens of the world. According to several studies, development in infancy and early childhood are important because it is the fundamental foundation for the lifetime. It is very important to provide developmentally appropriate environment for infants and young children in order to facilitate their development not only for individual life but also for the future of the nation.
At this point, it is necessary to point out the characteristics of the children who are different from adults. Unlike adults the infants and young children accept the various stimulation through their senses and entire bodies. Therefore the space for the infants and little children should give stability in every sense and it could accommodate their challenges to recognize the boundless possibilities of development.
In a study examining the connections between child development and environment, Olds (2001) approached developmentally appropriate spaces for children with a new concept of “the spirit of place” which means the vitality existing in a certain place. Olds (2001) said a place with “the sprit” has the expansion of senses, love, creation, humanity and such delightful remembrances which could be carried until adulthood. According to the research, the places adults had chosen to be their favorite as children had certain characteristics:- places with nature and lots of sensory stimulations, private places where one could feel the sense of control and autonomy by exploring around.
These characteristics of chlidren’s favorite places are somewhat similar to the feelings children experience at home-sense of belonging, intimacy, familiarity, prediction, coziness, freedom, rest, etc. In other words, the developmentally appropriate environments for infants and young children are the places with the characteristics of a home.
To provide such an environment for children, Olds (2001) suggested to visualize the followings:- the environment in which children could 1) move freely practicing gross motor skills, 2) feel comfortable, 3) experience capability, 4) experience control.
The architect who is designing the child-friendly environment must remember that all surroundings could be‘bread’ for the development of children physically and psychologically. I sincerely hope that you discover the places of new experiences, freedom, and delight for children.