Pictured: Free play in the 3 to 4-year-old class at Starfish Academy in North Port.

Studies show that strategic renovations to young children's learning environments significantly enhance their cognitive development and engagement. By replacing dilapidated, piecemeal furnishings with sturdy, wooden furniture, warm lighting, and natural accessories, young students gain an environment that is calming and conducive to exploration, self-discovery, and learning. This style of classroom setting, inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which emphasizes child-centered and experiential learning, is especially effective for children with needs related to diagnoses such as autism, sensory processing disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs, and others.

Pictured: Free play in the 3 to 4-year-old class at Starfish Academy in North Port.