ERIC Number: EJ1405895
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0300-4430
EISSN: EISSN-1476-8275
'It's Very Spooky in Here': Young Children's Fears and Anxieties in the Natural Environment
Early Child Development and Care, v193 n15-16 p1558-1574 2023
Although nature is recognized as a setting that stimulates children's joy and wonder, few studies have examined the negative emotions that children experience in nature. This qualitative study explored 4-5-year-old Alaskan children's emotional, behavioural, and cognitive expressions of fear and anxiety during an outdoor excursion. Data was collected through sensory tours, in which children were equipped with wearable cameras while they explored. Findings revealed that half of the 20 children expressed fear and anxiety. Four themes (physical discomfort, trouble navigating, imagined danger, feeling scared and lost) characterized children's fearful encounters. Children created fearful situations by imaging monsters, snakes, and alligators. Encountering dark and fallen limbs, navigating the tall grass and a slippery boardwalk provoked feeling lost and scared. Children self-regulated their fearful experiences through self-talk and staying close to one another. By paying attention to children's fearful emotions, adults can better support children's formative experiences in the natural world.
Descriptors: Young Children, Anxiety, Fear, Environment, Emotional Experience, Emotional Development
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: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Alaska
Grant or Contract Numbers: 2200523