Nursery World - Enabling environments - friendly spaces, Part 3: Softly, softly

Soft spaces within the nursery can give children a sense of emotional security by being associated with home, says Elizabeth Jarman, in the third of a series looking at the kinds of spaces that nurseries need to provide for young children.

From my observations, most children want to curl up in a soft space at some point during their day in nursery. This need, however, is only partially met by the sleep area, and it is important that other soft spaces are provided around the nursery.

If we think about the soft spaces that children might use at home - a comfy sofa, their bed (often with a soft toy), a fluffy rug or carpet - we find that these places are often self-chosen and used when the child wants a cuddle or has an emotional need for reassurance, not just when the child is tired.

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