Correspondence between children's indoor and outdoor play in Japanese preschool daily life

Abstract

This study examined the correspondence between children's indoor and outdoor play in a preschool environment to investigate whether the children maintained a tendency to engage in a particular type of play irrespective of the environment, or whether they changed the type of play according to the environment. Play behaviours of 18 three-year-old and 20 five-year-old children were observed in both settings in an urban preschool in Japan. Various characteristics of play were examined based on cognitive play categories, social play categories, and types of objects used. The results indicate that children do not maintain fixed play behaviour without taking into consideration the play settings: their play differed greatly in accordance with the play setting. Not every child showed the same differences in play corresponding to differences in the setting. However, for each age group there was a qualitative difference based on the setting. For the threeyear-olds, the 'subject of interest' changed between settings, whereas for the five-year-olds, the 'participation in society' changed related to the setting (indoor or outdoor). The 'relation with the environment' was greater for both age groups in the outdoor setting. There were no significant sex differences.

Indoor and Outdoor Play in Preschool Programs

“…The importance of play in early childhood education is well-documented [1][2][3]. We know little about differences in how children play indoors versus outdoors [1]. In this study, children's play in two settings: indoors and outdoors, is compared.…”

“…In this study, children's play in two settings: indoors and outdoors, is compared. Both settings are essential to children's healthy development [1]. We see differences in specific play behaviors and domains affected relative to the setting [1].…”

“…In fact, there is very little literature with which to compare current results. There was only one other study found that compared indoor and outdoor play, and it occurred in a Japanese preschool [1]. The Japanese preschool study compared only indoor and outdoor play.…”

Accidents Encountered in Playgrounds, the Causes and Solutions

“…Çocuk parklarının bu özelliği, çocukların, büyük kas becerilerini geliştirmeye yönelik etkinliklere de aktif katılımını sağlar. 4 Bühler ve Hetzer'in araştırmasına göre; çocuk-ların oyun oynama süreleri iki aylıktan okul çağına kadar artmakta, temel eğitimin başlaması ile oyun oynamaya ayırdıkları zaman yedi-sekiz yaşlarından sonra azalmaktadır. 5 Ancak, artan yaşla çocuk oyunları çeşitlenmekte ve iç mekân oyunlarından dış mekân oyunlarına doğru yönelmektedir.…”

“…Ayrıca, parkın oyun alanında bulunan salıncak, kaydırak, tahterevalli gibi oyun materyalleri çocukların beden ve psikomotor gelişimine katkıda bulunur. 4 Çocuk parklarında geçirilen bu eğlenceli aktif yaşam kazaları da beraberinde getirir.…”