Practical Ways to Create a Peaceful Setting for Living & Learning

A Peaceful Place™ is an approach that helps you create surroundings for young children and infants that encourage emotional growth, self-awareness and harmony. A Peaceful Place is more than just a “location” you create for the children in your care; it is an approach you can adopt that addresses environmental design, educational activities, and your attitude.

Why Create A Peaceful Place?

As early childhood professionals, we are expected to provide not only an educational setting for children, but a nurturing one as well. Because many young children spend so many hours a day in settings other than their own homes, it is important to put an emphasis on creating harmonious surroundings. Corporations spend thousands of dollars on interior designers and architects to help them create beautiful surroundings for their workspaces – imagine how young children would respond to the same attention. Lighting, room design and color all affect even the youngest child. Creating a well organized and beautiful environment becomes an important part of successful classroom management. Although infants, toddlers and preschoolers have different developmental needs, all children and babies are affected by our tone of voice, our body language, beautiful music and pleasing organized spaces of discovery. When children are given routines that engage them sensorially; you will notice how the quality of the time you spend with them changes, making your day easier and more fun. When you create a soothing and nurturing environment it “speaks to children” in a language that is beyond words. I hope the following hints will help you add a special and peaceful part of the day in a care or preschool experience.

How to Create A Peaceful Place:

ATTITUDE

Check into yourself, how are you feeling? If you are centered and feeling calm, it will be reflected in your behavior and how you respond to your class. Your attitude is at the foundation of promoting effective classroom management. The teacher plays the role of a “gentle giant.” The adult introduces materials and activities. You are the storyteller, you give simple directions, model appropriate behavior and then withdraw to become observer and guide, reinforcing boundaries when necessary. The word “discipline” has its roots in the word “disciple,” one who supports and follows a leader.

Being consistent in manner and tone is especially effective; it gives small children a frame of reference for figuring out what you want of them. When you use a gentle yet firm tone children will respond to your cues more readily, Infants and preverbal toddlers respond to the tone of voice you use and your vocal inflections. Using your body and hands to express yourself helps young children follow with their eyes as well as their ears.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

The interior design of the space you have prepared for children is very important, from the furniture placement to the colors you choose. Studies have been done about the impact colors have on our moods. Colors can stimulate or calm. Room design can create chaos or support order. The way you organize the furniture determines the “traffic patterns” in the room. For instance, you can discourage running in the room by simply breaking up large spaces with furniture. Keep your activity spaces simple and uncluttered. This will help the children feel more organized and eliminate the need to wander. Create nooks and cozy corners in your room so children can find places to be alone. Children also respond dramatically to things of beauty. When you surround young children with beauty it awakens their appreciation of aesthetics and encourages them to delight in their surroundings. By creating a special and refined space for children to come to work and play in, we are showing them respect in nonverbal ways. By giving respect, we are asking for respect in return.

Music Can Create Mood How many times do you put on particular music to set a mood for yourself? Children are affected by the moods of music in the same way as adults- if not more so. The “children’s music” on the market is not the only music children enjoy. Children are responsive to a variety of music including classical, instrumental, environmental and ethnic. Your selection of music can help your children learn to appreciate music and stimulate their ability to learn auditorially.

Lighting Use candles and dimmers to set a dramatic tone for youngsters. The flame of pretty wax or electric candles mesmerizes them and it serves as a perfect way to center children and readies them for a transition.

CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS

Young children are always striving for independence. You can provide practical hands-on activities in your classroom such as; pouring their own juice, sweeping with a child size dustbin and broom and washing their own dishes. Children see their parents performing daily activities at home and have a strong desire to imitate them. This is a way for them to adapt to their environment and develop essential motor skills. By providing these activities for the children to do in your class, you are creating a way for them to involve themselves in meaningful tasks while gaining focus and concentration.

ACTIVITIES

Offer activities that encourage multi-sensory involvement: sound, sight, smell, touch and taste:

Pouring and transferring beans, sand or water into containers.
Transferring objects with different tools. Example: tweezers and cotton balls, tongs and cold, colorful ice cube balls.
Art activities that are soothing and centering: Water coloring, pastel or crayon/ water color resists. Multi-material collage techniques are also excellent for hand eye coordination and sensory stimulation. For infants use yogurt and pureed fruits and vegetables for painting with fingers and hands and edible collage materials for mouthing. I would call this an “art experience” rather than an “art project.”

Setting up centers around the room lets the children feel independent. They can choose any activity that interests them. Offer limited choices as a way to motivate children and help them stay focused.

TECHNIQUES

Closure is very important to young children. It is comforting to have a special time to connect with you and say goodbye.
Sit on the floor in a circle with hands folded in lap. Sing a welcoming song around a candle or other light source.
Lead children in breathing techniques similar to those used in yoga practices.
Young children are comforted by a predictable routine. Use the same greeting format everyday. Demonstrate or give directions nonverbally using dramatic pantomime gestures instead of your voice.
Learn and use basic sign language words.

As you proceed with your quest for “A Peaceful Place”, I am sure you will find as I did, that the quality of the time spent with the children in your care will transform. That is the beauty of this venture. You will enjoy finding new ideas—once you get started, they are endless! Above all, have fun with your peaceful place- we all benefit from it!

Karen Minette Weinstein, MS.Ed •18 Norfield Road, Weston CT 06883•203.221.1870 •