ERIC Number: EJ1201019
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1472-9679
EISSN: N/A
Parents' Beliefs about Young Children's Play and Nature Experiences in Danish and US Contexts
Vandermaas-Peeler, Maureen; Dean, Caroline; Biehl, Maja Sbahi; Mellman, Anna
Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, v19 n1 p43-55 2019
Two studies were conducted in the US and Denmark to examine parents' beliefs about the importance of play and nature experiences for early childhood development. Thirty parents in the US and 19 parents in Denmark completed semi-structured interviews with quantitative and qualitative elements. Although families in both contexts highly valued outdoor and nature experiences, parents in the Danish context provided a stronger rationale for taking children outdoors regardless of environmental conditions and affording them opportunities to explore freely and take risks. Parents in the US focused mainly on individual developmental benefits of play, whereas parents in Denmark also acknowledged the importance of spending time in nature for society and the environment. The findings provide evidence that sociocultural values and expectations influence parental beliefs and practices regarding outdoor and nature play, and have implications for young children's play opportunities within and across cultural contexts.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Parent Attitudes, Young Children, Play, Outdoor Education, Child Development, Discovery Learning, Risk, Comparative Analysis, Social Values, Cultural Influences, Cultural Differences, Early Childhood Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Denmark; United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A