Why are the children not outdoors? Factors supporting and hindering outdoor play in Greek public day-care centres

ABSTRACT

Even though outdoor play is positively linked to children’s well-being, health, development and learning, children’s opportunities to play outside have reduced in recent years. This survey study (n = 662) examines preschool educators’ views and practice, aiming to gain a better understanding of the factors that affect play within child care and to shed more light on whether children’s outdoor play needs are adequately met. The physical environment of the day-care centres, the educators’ attitudes and the policy context were found to influence outdoor play. Limited time outdoors was indicated. Lack of suitable space, followed by health and safety concerns were the main factors suggested to hinder children’s play. The physical environment, the materials available and the educators’ role were the key factors proposed to enhance children’s play. This study could be informative to countries facing similar challenges and could support the development of training, educational materials, play-promotion programmes and policy development.

KEYWORDS:

• Outdoor play
• day-care
• child-care
• preschool
• Greece

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my PhD supervisors Prof H. Bilton and Prof J. Porter, as well as my colleagues at PLAYING, for their support and encouragement.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Dimitra Elida Kalpogianni is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, with 23 years professional experience of working with children and families, many of which within mainstream preschools. In January 2013, she co-founded the non-profit organisation PLAYING, aiming at the promotion of play in childhood. She is currently a PhD researcher at the Institute of Education of the University of Reading, studying play in the early years.

ORCID

Dimitra Elida Kalpogianni http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5905-6955

Additional information

Funding

I would like to thank the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for the grant supporting the programme ‘The Power of Play’.