Quality Rating 5: Learning Materials

Instructions

To meet the requirements for Developmentally Appropriate Learning and Practice: Learning Materials: DAP 2.5, your statement should include how your program selects and uses learning materials that:

The Policy or Statement Builder provides a step-by-step guide for creating your statement.

Developmentally Appropriate

Children learn and develop by actively exploring their environment and interacting with materials that match their age and development. Because children grow and develop at different rates and at different times, it is important to provide a variety of toys and materials that allow all children to meet challenges, receive feedback, and experience success.

What does the documentation look like?

Your statement includes a description of how the materials and equipment you select and use in your program match the age and developmental levels of the children enrolled. You may use photographs from your environment to support your statement as a way of showing your materials are appropriate and accessible to all children.

Accessible

All materials and equipment intended for children should be within their reach. Accessible materials encourage independence and responsibility particularly during free choice and clean-up activities. Even infants and toddlers benefit from shelving that allows them to pull themselves up to reach a toy that interests them. Some materials may need to be adapted to meet the needs of individual children. Simple adaptations such as adding wooden blocks to tricycle peddles or adjusting the height of an easel can make a big difference in a child’s ability to participate fully in activities.

What does the documentation look like?

Your statement explains how materials and equipment are accessible for all the children in your program.

Promote Multiple Modes of Exploration

Children benefit from many opportunities to experience and explore the world in different ways. A variety of materials should be available that allow children to use their senses, ask questions, explore and test their ideas, move, work, and play. Your materials should reflect a range of opportunities, as well as encourage and support different ways of learning (example: visual experiences, hands-on experiences, physical activity).

What does the documentation look like?

Your statement describes the materials you use that allow children to explore and learn in many different ways.

Reflect Children’s Interests, Cultures and Languages

Understanding children’s developmental levels, background experiences, cultures, and home languages helps you select materials that appeal to children and gives them a sense of belonging and acceptance. For example, many young children enjoy dumping and filling activities. Sand tables, water play, and baskets of different toys all accommodate children’s interests in different ways.

Including play materials that reflect the children’s cultures and home languages helps them feel welcomed and included in your program. Consider asking families to provide common household items that are familiar to the children and representative of the children’s cultures. Display family pictures and other images of the various cultures in your class. Labeling objects in multiple languages inspires curiosity and discussion. These types of materials can be used to expand the experiences and interests of all the children. Include books and materials that build on children’s specific interests and backgrounds. Even the simplest material can spark rich conversation and promote language development, questions, and critical thinking.

What does the documentation look like?

Your statement explains how you select materials that respect the children’s interests, cultures, home languages and experiences.

Support Children of all Abilities

Ensuring that every child has access to materials that support his or her ability is important when selecting toys and equipment. Some children may be able to hold a regular cup, while others may need cups with handles. Traditional scissors may be appropriate for children with more experience, and spring scissors may help other children develop these skills. Assess and observe each child and ensure that materials and equipment allow all children to fully participate successfully in all aspects of your program.

What does the documentation look like?

Your statement includes a description of ways you select specific materials to support each child in your program. Consider including specific examples to support your statement.

Materials are Rotated

Rotating materials from time to time keeps your setting interesting to children. It’s a way to add novelty and encourages new ways of exploring the environment. Consider the way you organize and store materials. Transparent containers keep materials organized, yet children can see what is inside and available for use. As children develop and their interests change, rotating materials can add excitement and stimulate new ideas. Even rearranging the furniture can give an environment a fresh look and feel that sparks interest and curiosity.

What does the documentation look like?

Your statement includes a description of your approach to rotating materials in your setting. Consider including an explanation of why and when you rotate materials and provide specific examples to support your statement.

Policy or Statement Builder

Develop a Statement that describes how your program selects and uses materials to support children’s learning. The Reflection Questions below will help you think about what you do in your program to capture it when creating your statement. Once you have spent time reflecting on the questions below, you’re ready to build your Selection and Use of Materials statement.

  1. How do you ensure that the materials selected and used are developmentally appropriate for the children enrolled in your program?
  2. Where do you keep your materials so that they are accessible to the children?
  3. How do you learn about the children’s preferences so that you choose materials that interest them?
  4. What kinds of materials do you have that support children of all abilities?
  5. How do you select materials that promote multiple modes of exploration and learning? Give some examples.
  6. What kinds of materials do you select that reflect the children’s primary languages and cultural backgrounds?
  7. When and why do you rotate materials?

Once you have spent time reflecting on the questions, you have the option to download and save your Selection and Use of Materials Template and create your statement.

Technology Tips

Download the PDF.

Save the PDF.

Print the PDF.

Edit the PDF.

Do you need more time to think about writing your Selection and Use of Materials Statement? Use Writers Tips and Prompts to find examples and get more guidance on creating your statement.

Where can you learn more?