An infant and child’s access to a quiet space is as crucial as having access to a stimulating environment. For infants a quiet space is a calm and quiet environment where adult’s can pick up subtle cues and become in tuned to the infant’s needs. For children a quiet space in a room allows ‘thinking time’ or an opportunity to wind down.
Providing an adequate quiet space teaches a child to self-sooth in order to decrease their level of arousal. (Transitional objects used as self-soothing objects are discussed elsewhere. See Tip Sheet: Emotional Well Being, Managing Transitions.)
A quiet space with minimal distraction is useful to manage transitions between one activity and another. Children are then able to carry this learning when engaged in particular activities. A child who has learnt to self sooth are more likely to make ‘mental transitions’ when distracted in particular activities by decreasing their levels of arousal in a similar manner in order to focus on particular tasks at hand.
A quiet space may have dimmed soft lighting, music without staccato notes or that is not syncopated is ideal, such as The Four Seasons by Vivaldi. High contracts, bright colours, and varying textures all provide multi-sensory stimulation that need to be avoided in a quiet space. If space is limited, perhaps a corner of a room partitioned with a bookshelf, and a few comfy seats may be used.
Tasks to consider in a quiet space may include story time, modelling clay, activities with sand and water, soothing nursery rhymes or breathing exercises for children. For infants, skin-to-skin contact, baby massage, rocking or playing a particular tune serve a similar role.
Ideally a child should have access to this area regularly each day, and as required. This may be the area where children start and end their day, or when a child appears to be overly stimulated in an activity.
A quiet space is equally important for caregivers and staff working with infants and children. Infants and children can quickly identify if you are stressed, and this will impact on their behaviour. Key adults modelling calm behaviour is also a great learning tool for children.
