Space is everything that surrounds us, and at the same time, it is a psychological and existential experience.

In educational contexts, the organization and arrangement of spaces play a fundamental role, as they become consistent educational mediators capable of supporting or inhibiting specific developmental processes. Exploring educational spaces with a keen eye allows us to understand what occurs within them and the opportunities offered by the spaces themselves to those who experience it daily, including children, educators, teachers, parents, and support staff.

This observation holds greater value and relevance in educational environments aimed at children aged zero to six years old, as in nurseries and preschools, children encounter their first experiences of autonomous socialization outside the family, and because children in this specific age group explore reality through their five senses. Space thus becomes experienced with the body, the mind, and place to develop multiple opportunities for different relationships.

Proximity spaces, entrances, common areas, private spaces, restrooms, dining areas and, not least, classrooms become contexts to explore, understand and inhabit. This exploratory process enables children not only to navigate within space but also to recognize the rules steering it. Therefore, the design and organization of spaces by educators and teachers has become a key element for the development of multiple competencies.

From the perspective of educational continuity, the arrangement of spaces and experiences must find coherence both internally and externally with the surrounding territory. Thus, to design an effective educational action, space is a fundamental ally as it contributes actively to the well-being and growth from early childhood, both in tangible and intangible ways.

On the basis of three case studies, this contribution aims to outline the foundational elements for constructing structured early childhood educational environments to enhance educational planning and create professional synergies aimed at ensuring the well-being of those who share spaces and experiences daily.

Keywords: Space, education, early childhood.