Running the risk: The social, behavioral and environmental associations with positive risk in children’s play activities in outdoor playspaces

Loebach, Janet; Ramsden, Rachel; Cox, Adina; Joyce, Karen; Brussoni, Mariana

doi:10.1007/s42322-023-00145-1

Cited by 2 publications

References 48 publications

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Analysis of preschool children’s outdoor play behaviours

Cakan,

Acer

2024

Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education

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This research aimed to observe preschoolers' outdoor play behaviours, gather their opinions about the outdoors and examine their drawings related to outdoor activities. Methodology: Using a mixed methods approach, children aged 60 to 69 months were studied over a 4-week period in a preschool setting. Observation, interviews, and drawing tasks were used as data sources, ensuring triangulation. The children's outdoor play behaviours were video-recorded, and their opinions were taken through one-on-one interviews. The children were asked to draw pictures of the materials they wanted to see in the playground. This study explored how the outdoor environment impacts children's play behaviour. Research Findings: Using content analysis and frequency distribution, we found that the most frequently played in the schoolyard was functional play, and they most often played alone and solitarily. Physical conditions, such as the schoolyard grounds, material diversity, and material types within the play environment, affected children's outdoor play behaviours. The schoolyard setting led children to consider alternative play types and toys. The children stated that they mostly preferred to play in the park area and playhouse within the schoolyard. The children also stated that they wanted to see fixed park components, sports, dramatic play, arts, entertainment, and natural areas. In addition, the observed play behaviours and children's views regarding the schoolyard supported one another. Practice and Policy: These results support the theory that the environment impacts behaviour and show that outdoor spaces tailored to children's wishes and needs are an effective way to encourage quality play behaviours.

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Analysis of preschool children’s outdoor play behaviours

Cakan,

Acer

2024

Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education

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An Outdoor Play Intervention in Early Childhood Education Centers: Results from the PROmoting Early Childhood Outside Pilot Wait-list Control Cluster Randomized Trial

Ramsden,

Mount,

Lin

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Participation in outdoor play is beneficial for the health, well-being, and development of children. Early childhood education centers (ECECs) can provide equitable access to outdoor play. The PROmoting Early Childhood Outside (PRO-ECO) study is a pilot randomized trial that evaluates the PRO-ECO intervention on children’s outdoor play participation. The PRO-ECO intervention included four components: ECEC outdoor play policy; educator training; ECEC outdoor space modification; and parent engagement. This study included eight ECECs delivering licensed care to children (n = 217) aged 2.5 to 6 years in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Using a wait-list control cluster randomized trial design, ECECs were randomly allocated to either the intervention arm (n = 4) or the wait-list control arm (n = 4). Change in the proportion and diversity of observed outdoor play behaviour during scheduled outdoor time was measured. Outcome data were collected at baseline, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up. The intervention effect on children’s outdoor play participation was examined using logistic regression mixed effect models. Controlling for gender, weather and temperature, there were no changes in children’s outdoor play participation following implementation of the PRO-ECO intervention in the between-group analysis. Within-group comparisons also revealed no change in play participation following the PRO-ECO intervention, however, the intervention group showed a positive effect (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 0.97, 1.70) in play participation 6 months after implementation of the intervention. The findings indicate that further analyses on child- and ECEC-level outcomes collected as part of the PRO-ECO study, including the diversity of children’s play, is required to effectively assess the impact of this intervention.

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Running the risk: The social, behavioral and environmental associations with positive risk in children’s play activities in outdoor playspaces

Cited by 2 publications

References 48 publications

Analysis of preschool children’s outdoor play behaviours

Analysis of preschool children’s outdoor play behaviours

An Outdoor Play Intervention in Early Childhood Education Centers: Results from the PROmoting Early Childhood Outside Pilot Wait-list Control Cluster Randomized Trial

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