ERIC Number: EJ1129527
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1855-9719
EISSN: N/A
Outdoor Motor Play: Analysis, Speculations, Research Paths
Ceciliani, Andrea; Bortolotti, Alessandro
Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, v3 n3 p65-86 2013
In our rapidly changing contemporary society, it has become apparent that children spend significantly less time playing outdoors than their parents did. Therefore, considerable attention must be paid by professionals to engage this challenge, especially within early educational contexts. The goal of this study was to first explore the continual drive of play in educational growth and, second, the ways in which children play outdoors at school, in order to reap the developmental benefits of outdoor play in a supportive context, where such fundamental activity is not only allowed, but also supported. The results of this study reinforce existing research in this area, highlighting the findings of children's physical play behaviour and its frequency, also in connection with the use of tools and toys; further findings highlight teacher's attitudes and suggest several options for early childhood professionals to foster children's enjoyment of outdoor play. Finally, the study results have implications for future opportunities in the planning of active spontaneous-play
Descriptors: Outdoor Education, Psychomotor Skills, Play, Child Behavior, Toys, Teacher Attitudes, Early Childhood Education, Observation, Young Children, Teacher Role, Gender Differences
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education. University of Ljubljana Kardeljeva plošcad 16. Slovenia. Tel: +386-1-5892-344; e-mail: editors@cepsj.si; Web site: http://www.cepsj.si/doku.php?id=en:cepsj
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A