Where do the children play?: An investigation of the intersection of nature, early childhood education and play

ABSTRACT

What is the role of early education and care in advocating and providing for nature play in an era when children’s exposure to nature play and risk is threatened? This review deconstructs the word ‘nature,’ as well as discusses nature’s role in centuries of theorists and early childhood care pioneers. The article concludes with some hopeful current directions in early childhood education, advocating for the role of teachers and institutions as powerful activists in providing intentionally risky affordances for nature play in early childhood settings.

KEYWORDS:

• Nature play
• risk
• teachers’ role

Notes on contributors

Jeanne Brown is a preschool teacher and adjunct instructor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at New Mexico State University. Her research interests include nature, risk-taking, and fantasy play.

Candace Kaye is a College Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at New Mexico State University. Her areas of specialization include multicultural policy issues in early childhood education, online social constructivist theory and practice, and historical and international perspectives of early childhood education thought and practice.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.