Early years practitioners put a lot of energy and thought into creating a 'stimulating' environment for the children and babies in their care. There are certain things people generally expect to see, and there is often an expectation that the space will be filled with books and toys and displays of children's 'work'. Understanding the principles behind what is (and what isn't) appropriately 'stimulating' is at the heart of a continuous provision or workshop-style approach.
No matter how much thought we put into designing and organising the learning environment, we need to recognise first of all the importance of addressing the basic human needs of comfort and safety. Children need to feel safe, secure and comfortable, or their bodies and brains will not be able to interact and engage well with the space or resources on offer. The work of Abraham Maslow and his 'hierarchy of human need' helps us to understand how a 'nurturing environment' makes the best of all possible learning environments.
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