The outdoor environment in Norwegian kindergartens as pedagogical space for toddlers' play, learning and development

Abstract

En studie kring pedagogers syn på utomhusvistelse i förskolan SammanfattningDenna studie handlar om vad pedagoger har för syfte med utevistelsen. Hur pedagogerna ser på utemiljön och på vilket sätt den kan tas tillvara. Förskolan ska göra barnen uppmärksamma på miljön runtomkring (Skolverket, 2010). Studien tar upp vilka faktorer pedagogerna anser vara värdefulla för barns utevistelse. Studien belyser också hur pedagogerna värderar sin roll ute och till sist hur pedagogerna arbetar med det styrdokument förskolan har att arbeta med. I undersökningen har en intervjustudie med pedagoger inom förskolan utförts. Resultatet tyder på att pedagogerna tar vara på utomhusvistelsen och ser de positiva aspekterna med att vara ute. De flesta pedagogerna anser sig själva ha en deltagande roll. Vad det gäller styrdokument så genomsyras den dagliga verksamheten av läroplanen, även om flertalet pedagoger inte synliggör detta i intervjuerna. Dessa delar har valts att lyfta i uppsatsen.Nyckelord: Barn, Förskola, Pedagoger, Utomhusvistelse. AbstractThis study focus on the attitudes to the outdoor activity by pre-school pedagogues. One important target for pre-schools is to make the children aware of the environment around us (Skolverket, 2010). How is pedagogues views on the curriculum and how is this affecting how the use of the outdoor environment I have also chosen to illustrate how pedagogues value and see their own role outdoors in relation to the curriculum. The examination contains an interview study with pedagogues in the pre-school. The result suggests that the pedagogues are positive to utilize the outdoor environment and that they see the positive aspects of it. Regarding the curriculum, the study revealed that the pedagogues do work with the curriculum as the base for the activities (even if they don't tell me that in the interviews.) The pedagogues own role on the situation. These topics are what I have chosen to take out be clearer in my examination.

Factors influencing childcare workers’ promotion of physical activity in children aged 0–4 years: a qualitative study

“…The physical performance of preschool children and the outdoor environment as pedagogical space for toddlers have been described previously (Krombholz 2006(Krombholz , 2012Moser and Martinsen 2010). Furthermore, previous studies in childcare settings have mostly quantified children's PA or described the association between PA and the facilities available at the centres (e.g.…”

Injuries in Norwegian Early Childhood and Care (ECEC) Institutions

“…This knowledge could also be useful for ECEC politicians and practitioners in other countries since Norwegian ECECs spend a large proportion of their time outdoors (Helsedirektoratet 2012;Moser & Martinsen, 2010), and the Norwegian ECECs give children a high degree of free mobility and play, including the possibility for risky play types (Little, Sandseter, & Wyver, 2012;Sandseter, 2010Sandseter, , 2012. It seems that even though Norwegian children are, to a high degree, exposed to situations that can lead to injuries, the rate of injuries is very low.…”

“…Since Norwegian children spend a large proportion of their time in ECECs in play and outdoor activities (Helsedirektoratet 2012;Moser & Martinsen, 2010), it is not a surprise that most injuries occur outdoors. A somewhat older English study (Illingworth et al, 1975) showed that even though most injuries in playgrounds were scrapes, bruises and small cuts, the amount of fractures was quite substantial (26.5 %) while concussions were considerably lower in occurrence (6 %).…”

Structural conditions for children's play in kindergarten

“…Physical environment is here understood to be the building, the architectural design of the space, interiors and furnishings as well as the toys and materials in this space. An examination of the external physical play area based on the same data, has already been described in a previous article, which is why it is not considered in this context (Moser & Martinsen, 2010). Buildings and their design express ideology, financial constraints and the interests of the child and childhood.…”