ERIC Number: EJ1208189
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1350-293X
EISSN: N/A
An Exploration of Infant and Toddler Unstructured Outdoor Play
Dinkel, Danae; Snyder, Kailey; Patterson, Tyler; Warehime, Shane; Kuhn, Miriam; Wisneski, Debora
European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, v27 n2 p257-271 2019
Unstructured outdoor play is important for children's development. The present study examined infants' and toddlers' physical and social unstructured outdoor play behaviors within childcare centers. Children's outdoor play behaviors were video recorded at two centers (A&B) and assessed using a modified version of the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children in Preschool (OSRAC-P). Children in this study primarily took part in active play (56.7%) and engaged in play without any type of prompting from a teacher (91.2%). There was a significant interaction between the effect of center and location on physically active play (p < 0.001). Children at Center B were most active in open play areas (77.6%), while children at Center A were most active in gross motor play areas (72.2%). In sum, the outdoor play environment influences infants' and toddlers' physical and social play behaviors; however, more research is needed to determine the optimal environment for development.
Descriptors: Play, Infants, Toddlers, Recreational Activities, Child Care, Physical Activities, Physical Activity Level, Playgrounds
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A