Toddlerhood opens up a whole new world of increased independence and agency for young children as they hone their newly acquired language, motor and cognitive skills.
When setting up a room for two-year-olds, providers should not only consider children’s powerful desire to ‘explore and do’, but also pay close attention to spaces where they can rest and recuperate when emotional overwhelm takes hold. Equipment to support children’s learning though movement and their senses is key, along with calm, cosy spaces to relax.
How the environment is organised, safety considerations and the type of resources on offer will have a direct impact on young children’s confidence and willingness to explore. With a trusted adult alongside offering support and encouragement to ‘have a go’ and manage risks, these early experiences can be brain-boosting and resilience-building.
‘Start with the practicalities,’ explains Phil Armstrong, Early Excellence’s senior education lead and early years consultant. ‘Flooring needs to be easy to clean, as there will be spillages. As for the structure and layout of the room, space is key. There’s a tendency to add too much, but two-year-olds are still developing their proprioception and need space to navigate both themselves and their surroundings.’
The importance of creating a space that feels warm, welcoming and inviting for children, especially for those that are settling in, should not be underestimated. ‘Think about creating those softer areas and cosy inviting spaces. Twos will need downtime, whether it’s to sleep or for peace and quiet,’ Armstrong says.
As for the core areas of provision, look at what goes well together. ‘We know that blocks go well with small-world play,’ he says. ‘In the creative area, think about having easels for the upward movement, but also tables nearby for joint activities.’ Armstrong adds that adaptability is another consideration, such as ‘using tables that can be easily converted from the creative area for lunchtime’.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Don’t over complicate things when choosing resources for twos. ‘They’ll be into schematic play – filling and emptying, pouring, transporting – as well as sorting and categorising in heuristic play and exploring with their senses,’ says Armstrong. ‘Provide indoor sand and water experiences, and make sure they are well supervised.’
Two-year-olds have not yet mastered the act of sharing, so it is important to have more than one of the same items. Also many need the time and space to play alone until they build up to playing alongside, and eventually with, others.
Role-play areas are great for encouraging collaborative play. Some two-year-olds will be starting to engage in pretend play, behaving as if they are someone else. Others will just want to put everything in the washing machine. ‘They don’t necessarily need rigid equipment. They are often more imaginative than we give them credit for,’ says Armstrong.
Baskets clearly labelled with images of their items are useful for tidy-up time, particularly in a two-year-old room where it would not be unexpected to find a dinosaur in a cereal box in the home corner.
KEEP IT CONSISTENT
Joining a setting can be an emotional process, which is why consistency in continuous provision is key. Twos need to be secure in their environment. They need to revisit the learning to master it. If the environment changes too frequently, it can be unsettling.
One piece of equipment that is a staple for childminder Debra Meakin, owner of Cheeky Cherubs Childcare, is Community Playthings’ Slip and Climb, £1,260. ‘The repetition of going up the steps and down the slide provides opportunities to enhance toddlers’ gross motor skills,’ she says. ‘They experiment with going headfirst down the slide, or on their backs, which builds self-esteem and confidence and has an impact on their social skills. We can also place a sheet over the top to create a dark space for them to hide. It provides opportunities for building language during play, supporting PSED and physical development, which underpins it all for the children.’
CASE STUDY: First Friends Nursery in Alton, Hampshire
Opportunities for responsibility and challenge are key features of the enabling environment at First Friends Nursery. Quality and curriculum manager Shanice Butt says toddlers thrive on this. ‘We’ve designed our environments to promote independence and learning through repetition. Our self-care stations are equipped with mirrors, bins, tissues, wipes and combs, encouraging children to manage their self-care needs independently. Rolling snack stations allow children to make choices and recognise hunger cues, while breakfast bars offer opportunities for them to select and prepare their own food.
‘We have child-sized tools, such as brooms, dust pans and brushes and watering cans, and children can get involved as and when they want. They love using the clipboards to complete their own “checks”. We also ensure that children have access to resources that support independent exploration, such as our creative stations, where they can choose materials and express themselves artistically.
‘All our furniture is age-appropriate and accessible. Resources are stored in natural baskets at child height, encouraging independent access. Labels with photos are used to help children identify and return items to their places. These labels also include PECS images and Makaton signs to promote communication and the use of sign language.
‘Our movement areas are inspired by JABADAO. These are soft, matted spaces with simple resources providing children with the freedom to move as their bodies require. We introduce climbing equipment, such as the 6 in 1 Children’s Wooden Climbing Frame, £159.99, from www.littlehelper.co.uk, and balance boards.
‘Our cosy corners are safe, inviting spaces. Toddlers love to retreat to our Rakiki Indoor Archway Den, £179 from Cosy.’
Big buys: two-year-old room equipment and resources
Sensory: TTS’s Sand and Water Play Table, £154.99, comes in different heights, and Cosy’s Low Packaway Giant Water Tray, £194, and Community Playthings’ Small Sand and Water Table, £495, are great space-efficient options. Pentagon Play’s Essential Range Tuff Spot Table, £395, comes with sorting dividers, or try its Nursery Starter Pack, £3,760, which contains a sand and water table and easel table on wheels, seats and a mud kitchen. Muddy Faces’ Nature Table with Resources Set, £619.99, has a rich selection of loose parts.
Home and play: Community Playthings’ Starter Home Corner, £696, includes a sink, washing machine and cooker, or try Hope’s Sense Of Place Wee Ones Kitchen and Stove Offer, £999.99. TTS’s Modern Living Toddler Kitchen Set, £849.99, reflects contemporary living. Use Wooden Construction Cubes from Hope, £89.99, with Yellow Door’s Traditional Tales Wooden Characters, £87.50, or try TTS’s Light Up Glow Spheres, Cylinders and Bricks, £325.97.
Gross motor: Try Cosy’s Pikler Style Clambering Folding Triangles, £255; or Community Playthings’ School Set Hollow Blocks, £2,510, its Billy Goats Bridge with Slide, £1,850, and its Three Push Me Pull Me vehicles, £480. For more pulling action, try Hope’s Grey Wooden Pull Along Wagon, £39.99.
Furniture: If space is tight, try Pentagon Play’s clever Stack and Sit Package 3, £725, or its double-sided Bookcase on Wheels, £395. TTS’s Toddler low curved units – set of six, £1,299.94, are great if you need flexible configurations. Also see Muddy Faces’ Stackable Storage Crates, £35.99, and Learn About Nature Tree Stump Stools, £125.99.
Complete sets: See Early Excellence’s Complete Classroom Area Set 2-3 years, £9,745, and its Complete Classroom Resource Set 2-3 years, £3,645.
Further information
- Early Excellence Planning Guide : https://bit.ly/3zFhgFH
