Emotionally Responsive classrooms have an area that is soft and relaxing, perhaps including puppets and soft animals, and some well supervised enclosed spaces. They are clean and well cared for. Children can expect to find desired items in a stable location. Toys and other learning materials are well maintained and removed or fixed if they break. Teacher-Child Interaction Teachers engaged in Emotionally Responsive Practice acknowledge that they have an important role in the lives of the young children in their care.
Young children come to depend on the teacher's availability.
They learn to read their teacher's expressions and anticipate responses. The teacher becomes an organizing presence in the life of a young child and may give children their first experience with becoming connected to someone outside of the home. Therefore, Emotionally Responsive teachers are consistent in their availability to children and let children know if they are going to be unavailable. Emotionally Responsive teachers are able to tune into the developmental issues that are important for the kids. They know that children who are worried about separation have trouble staying focused and being receptive.