Humanizing Infant Environments for Group Care

Thelma Harms
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center

Citation: Harms, Thelma (1994). "Humanizing Infant Environments for Group Care." Children's Environments 11 (2): 118-136. Retrieved [date] from http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/

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Abstract

Increasing numbers of infants below 18 months of age are in group care settings at a time when they still need highly individualized care. This relatively new childcare center population is a challenge to early childhood educators and environmental designers because there is little collective experience with the group care of infants. In order to offer these very young children a good quality of life in childcare the environment must provide for their demanding health and safety requirements, support staff in building warm relationships with the infants and their parents, and include appropriately stimulating activities during this period of rapid growth and development. Infant care is also stressful for parents and staff, thus environmental provisions for these key groups of adults are also required.

Keywords: infant environments, infants, group care