For example, put spoons in the block area. Arrange blocks and spoons so that some of the blocks represent plates, others food, with the spoons strategically placed to suggest eating. This exposes the child to a variety of play materials and playmates and encourages play in all activity areas. Sometimes a child with a disability will observe another child and be interested in playing with the same toy. Including four or five spoons allows 3 or 4 children who may want to play together to have the tools they need.
Environmental arrangement is a simple and powerful teaching strategy.
Arranging your play space at the beginning of the day or during an afternoon break can add a valuable dimension to children s play. For young children with disabilities in particular, this approach can help them learn to respond to cues throughout their environment, increase chances for success, build self-esteem, and teach lifelong skills that no other strategy can begin to match. The key is how to provide the extra information a child needs to know what to do, where to go, and how to succeed. You walk into the room and see a doll that interests you. Some children may come up with a play idea right away and start to play.