In this introduction to the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices, we will briefly explain what we mean by the environment and what it means for young children with disabilities and their families. This will provide a framework for conceptualizing the inter-relatedness of environmental settings and features. We will also define types of environments in which children develop and grow and outline key ideas to consider when implementing the Environment recommended practices. This chapter will use vignettes to illustrate important themes and show examples of how practitioners can best use the Environment recommended practices
