Research Findings: The primary purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between social play and involvement in the outdoor preschool environment. The study included 173 children ranging in age from 3 to 6 years (Mage = 3.95; SD = 0.82) and attending 19 preschools in the Basque Country (Spain). Fifty-one teachers (50 women, 1 man) also participated. Our results indicated that there is a relationship between social participation and involvement, and that group play is the type of play that best predicts greater involvement. No significant differences in levels of involvement were found between boys and girls, although gender was found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between the type of group play and involvement. Practice or Policy: The results are discussed with reference to the need to implement innovations in the outdoor preschool environment that have a positive effect on child development. The outdoor environment should promote social participation as well as gender equality and inclusion, and consequently it should be designed to offer both access to a natural environment and multiple opportunities for play.

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Título: Conducta de exploración, bienestar emocional y calidad del cuidado en educación infantil. Resumen: El objetivo del presente trabajo consistió en examinar la relación entre la calidad del cuidado estructural y del proceso en las escuelas infantiles y la conducta de exploración, así como la influencia que ejerce la calidad del cuidado en la relación entre el bienestar emocional y la exploración infantil. En el estudio participaron 206 niños y niñas pertenecientes a 40 aulas de 20 escuelas infantiles de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco, de edades comprendidas entre los 37 y los 64 meses (M = 50.96, DT = 6.54). Se contó también con la participación de 40 maestras, una por cada aula objeto de estudio. Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto que los niños y niñas que tenían maestras más sensibles mostraban una mayor exploración. Sin embargo, no se halló un efecto moderador de la sensibilidad sobre la relación positiva entre el bienestar emocional y la conducta de exploración. Por último, se observó que otras variables asociadas a la calidad estructural también influyen sobre la exploración infantil, aunque en menor medida. Palabras clave: Exploración; bienestar emocional; sensibilidad; calidad del cuidado; educación Infantil. Abstract:The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between children exploratory behaviour and the quality of structural childcare and process in preschools. The study also examined how childcare quality affects the relationship between emotional wellbeing and exploratory behaviour. The sample comprised 206 children from 40 classrooms in 20 preschools, together with their teachers. The children's age ranged between 37 and 64 months (M = 50.96, SD = 6.54). The results indicated that children cared for by more sensitive teachers engaged in more exploratory behavior. However, no moderating effect was found of teacher sensitivity on the positive relationship between exploratory behavior and wellbeing. Finally, some factors linked to the quality of structural childcare also influenced exploratory behavior, although to a lesser extent.

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