165 OVERVIEW Early childhood education (ECE) environments greatly infuence children’s learning experiences as well as their health and development more gener- ally. The right learning environment is about more than just space, expen- sive buildings, or equipment. It is, at its best, about creating an environment conducive to learning and that ensures children feel safe, make sense of the world, and feel empowered, understood, and free to learn actively and fexibly. Five principles underpin an environment conducive to quality early learning: (1) overall safety, (2) pedagogical organization, (3) spatial fexibility, (4) empowerment and authorship, and (5) child-centered design. These fve principles can help create a supportive and nurturing early learn- ing environment that refects local cultures, landscapes, and community experiences. The right learning environment helps children learn about themselves, others, and the world’s diversity. It is centered around learning relationships between children, adults, and materials, and is based on fex- ible encounters rather than rigid teaching. 4 Creating Early Childhood Education Environments That Promote Early Learning This chapter was written by Cynthia Adlerstein and Alejandra Cortázar.