What is Book Bans

Early childhood education is perhaps the most critical school experience for children throughout their educational career. In this environment, children become accustomed to the policies and procedures of school, and also learn skills and techniques that have the potential to benefit them for the rest of their lives. Educational systems are becoming more routinized and less concerned with child development and more concerned with data-driven assessment and curriculum which has begun to seep its way into earlier and earlier grades with the intention to prepare children to be college and career ready. However, lost in this transition is the importance of creating authentic learning experiences, especially in the early childhood environment, which can set the tone for a child's education for their entire life. This chapter explores how authentic spaces can be created in early childhood classrooms, and offers examples of successful early childhood classroom environments, barriers, and recommendations for educators to better improve the educational environment for children.