Principles Priorities Next Steps
Principles
- The Working Group shall be named the World Forum Global Collaborative OnDesign for Children.
- We agree that all environments work should be approached through the lens of valuing the image of the child as capable and miraculous.
“Children are miracles. Believing that every child is a miracle can transform the way we design for children’s care. When we invite a miracle into our lives, we prepare ourselves and the environment around us.
We may set out flowers or special offerings. We may cleanse ourselves, the space, or our thoughts of everything but the love inside us. We make it our job to create, with reverence and gratitude, a space that is worthy of a miracle! Action follows thought. We can choose to change. We can choose to design spaces for miracles, not minimums.” — Anita Rui Olds, 1999 - Each child is unique and all children should have access to high-quality environments. Spaces for children should reflect universal design principles.
- Our work should foster positive relationships in an enabling environment.
- All work should start with the child and include the child’s point of view.
- Children must be seen in the context of and as an integral part of their specific communites.
- We should work to ensure that community members and stakeholders are included in the effort to create great environments for children.
- Spaces and environments must fit the context and rhythm of the child’s life and the child’s day.
- It is the responsibility of this working forum to both educate and learn.
- To develop a clearinghouse/network on environments to include:
a. Establishment of an early environments web resource for:
i. Posting of images and information (develop +/– standard format for postings.
ii. Potential to develop and conduct online seminars.
…more coming soon…
…More coming soon…