Why play outside? Problematising outdoor play as a biopedagogical task

ABSTRACT

Although outdoor play has been widely recognised for the many benefits it affords children, some have rationalised the need for it based on goals related to physical health. More specifically, these instrumental goals have been closely related to obesity, overweight, and/or physical (in)activity. Adhering to obesity discourses and the notion of a childhood obesity epidemic, such instrumentalisation of outdoor play unnecessarily positions it as a biopedagogical task. Herein we have identified three relatively recent and notable institutes of truth that perpetuate this instrumentalisation of play into a biopedagogical task. Through our consideration and analysis of the initial conception of nature-deficit disorder, subsequent research into outdoor playgrounds and natural play spaces in schools, and a recent national report on physical activity, we hope to initiate and invite candid contemplation, reflection, and critique for and from those within the physical and health education field.

KEYWORDS:

• Outdoor
• play
• biopedagogy
• physical and health education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Daniel B. Robinson, PhD is an Associate Professor and Chair of Teacher Education at St. Francis Xavier University. He teaches undergraduate courses in elementary and secondary physical education curriculum and instruction. He also teaches graduate courses in current research in curriculum and instruction, administration of inclusive schools, curriculum theory, and school and teaching effectiveness. Dr. Robinson’s research focuses on culturally responsive physical education, gender and racialised minorities, service learning, and in-school health promotion programming.

Dr. Joe Barrett is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Brock University. His teaching duties and research/service interests are oriented around school health policy and health and physical education pedagogy/teacher education. He has served as the Ontario representative on the Physical & Health Education (PHE) Canada Board of Directors (2013–2015) and he has also served as co-chair (2010–2012) and chair (2012–2013) of the PHE Canada Research Council.

Notes

1 Our placement of these concepts (obesity, overweight, and [in]activity) alongside one another here and elsewhere is not meant to suggest some sort of simple causal relationship. Moreover, we, like others, recognize how the Health at Any Size (HAES) movement seeks to decouple this erroneous connection (see Bacon, 2008).