Children’s views and preferences regarding their outdoor environment

Abstract

This study aims to enhance awareness of what young children want to do outside and their preferences regarding their outdoor environment. Views of children as active participants, the affordance of the environment and the importance of place for children’s learning constitute the theoretical background of the study. The study was part of a research and development project on education for sustainable development in which preschool children and compulsory school children participated in decision-making about how their common school ground should be constructed. Data were gathered through observations and interviews with children and teachers. The findings show that the children wanted to challenge themselves as well as to be secure, explore things, be in contact with others, find or create nests and enjoy beautiful things outdoors. The children highly valued the natural environment and liked diversity in playground equipment.

Keywords:

• school outdoor environment
• young children’s views and preferences
• participation
• children’s perspectives

Additional information

Funding

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support of The Nature Conservation Fund of Pálmi Jónsson (I. Náttúruverndarsjóður Pálma Jónssonar) and the Environmental and Energy Research Fund (I. Umhverfis- og orkurannsóknasjóðurinn) owned by Reykjavík Energy (I. Orkuveita Reykjavíkur), the municipal energy company of Reykjavík.

Notes on contributors

Kristín Norðdahl

Kristín Norðdahl is an assistant professor at the School of Education, University of Iceland. Her main areas of research are young children’s learning in science, the role of the outdoor environment in children’s learning, environmental education and education for sustainable development.

Jóhanna Einarsdóttir

Jóhanna Einarsdóttir is a professor at the School of Education, University of Iceland. Her main area of research is in early childhood education; children’s transition between preschool and primary school, children’s participation, children’s perspectives and ethical issues in research with young children.