ERIC Number: EJ1213811
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0300-4430
EISSN: N/A
The Role of Outdoor Education in Child Development in Italian Nursery Schools
Monti, Fiorella; Farné, Roberto; Crudeli, Fabiola; Agostini, Francesca; Minelli, Marianna; Ceciliani, Andrea
Early Child Development and Care, v189 n6 p867-882 2019
This study aimed to investigate the influence of Outdoor Education (OE) on different areas of development in 1-3-year-old children attending Italian nursery schools. The sample was composed of 160 children (1-3-year-old) divided into a first group (Traditional), with 76 children attending nursery schools with traditional educational activities; and a second group (Outdoor) of 84 children following a continuous OE programme at school. In January (T1) and in June (T2), the quality of child development was assessed by teachers, appropriately trained, through Kuno Beller Developmental Scales. Comparing the two groups, the results showed that, in most of the developmental areas (cognitive, emotional, social, fine motor skills), significant improvements at T2 were detected for the Outdoor group compared to the Traditional group. The findings highlight that OE, compared to indoor activities, offers greater opportunities for the child development -- playing, therefore, a crucial role as a protective developmental factor since early childhood.
Descriptors: Outdoor Education, Child Development, Comparative Analysis, Preschools, Preschool Children, Preschool Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Cognitive Development, Social Development, Emotional Development, Psychomotor Skills, Classroom Environment, Foreign Countries, Screening Tests
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Italy
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Denver Developmental Screening Test
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A