What is play? - Carson Street School

2… PLAY SPACE MODEL PLAY ENVIRONMENT
The following are key factors to consider when setting up the play environment to
foster learning and development:
Safety
The play environment should be designed in a way that will keep the child safe but
that is not overly restrictive. It is imperative that you examine the area closely and
remove anything that could be a danger for the child. In particular, look carefully for
small items such as buttons or tiny toy parts. Things like this can cause a child to
choke.
Set up a specific place
Choose a room or space in your home to use when you play with your child. You
could mark the play space by a large mat, quilt or throw rug to enable the child to
detect the area easily. The size of the area should ensure that your child is close to
you while having enough room to move around.
Storing toys
Toys and objects in the play environment should be kept in predictable positions,
labelled and should be easy to access. This can expand the child’s understanding of
the environment.