ABSTRACT
The development of programs for substitute and supplemental care of infants and young children has been hampered by a lack of clarity about the significant parameters of the environment. There are many different levels on which the environment can be conceptualized. Three major aspects of the environment: the properties of the inanimate environment, the characteristics of the human environment, and the conditions under which these stimuli are provided. The importance of adequate sensory stimulation for the development of cognitive and problem-solving abilities in young children has now been well documented. The mediational activities of the caretaker are extremely important for the young child. Because of the infant's extreme helplessness, the caretaker must bring him in contact with appropriate stimuli. The research and theoretical writings have emphasized the importance of continuity in maternal care. The harmful effects of discontinuity have been dramatized by the studies of young infants who have been suddenly separated from their mothers and placed in institutional care.
