Planning experiences for 0 - 2 years age group

Sometimes figuring out the interests of the 0 - 2 years age group is quite hard. However, through accurate observation, we can identify individual interests, needs and strengths, as well as those of the group.

Safety and trust

The top priority with this age group is providing a safe environment for the children to explore in. For the primary care giver, important roles at this stage are:

• encouraging the baby to form a strong attachment with them
• helping develop a sense of trust in the world
• provide a safe environment for exploration.

Remember we need to be flexible with routines at this age, as babies may need extra naps or feeds throughout the day. This may impinge on the activities you have planned.

Sensory experiences

At this age, children need lots of support to explore sensory experiences. We provide these experiences within routines and in response to individual needs. For example we can provide a wide variety of toys of different, textures, colours and sizes, and plan different types of play experiences such as water play and outdoor time.

In order to provide appropriate sensory experiences, you need to know all of your senses. Do you?

Now that you've brushed up on the five senses, let's try a little experiment.

Ask a friend or family member to put several things on a tray without you seeing what they are. They should choose several items of varying textures, tastes and smells (perhaps something sweet, something smelly, something soft).

Next, they should bring you blindfolded to the tray and its contents for sampling. See if you can identify each item by its smell, taste and feel.

How did you find the experiment? Was it hard? Was it fun? Can you imagine exploring those things for the first time?

Write your thoughts on this experiment and your ideas for sensory experiences for young children in your notebook.