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Examining the Quality of Outdoor Play in Chinese Kindergartens
Bi Ying Hu1; Kejian Li2; Allison De Marco3; Yuewen Chen4
2015-04-01
Source PublicationInternational Journal of Early Childhood
ISSN0020-7187
Volume47Issue:1Pages:53-77
Abstract

The benefits of outdoor play for children’s well-rounded development are maximized when children experience enjoyment and, at the same time, gain physical, motor, cognitive, and social-emotional competence. This study examined the quality of outdoor play in Chinese kindergartens, the dominant form of full-day early childhood education program serving children aged from 3 to 6 years in China. The Outdoor Play Rating Scale was used to study the quality of the provision for children’s outdoor play. A total of 174 classrooms from 91 kindergartens in Zhejiang Province were included in the study. A stratified random sampling procedure was used to select kindergartens and classrooms. Results indicated that there was inadequate opportunity for outdoor play, including free play, as well as low level of physical activity by children. We found significant differences in quality of outdoor play across kindergartens in different locations (urban/non-urban areas). Recommendations were provided to practitioners in the discussion that primarily emphasized addressing the need to increase opportunities for children’s access to a wide range of outdoor activities and to improve teachers’ professional competencies in organizing quality outdoor activities for children. Implications for policymakers include the need to narrow the gap in the quality of outdoor environments in kindergartens so that children’s play is supported in ways that will enhance children’s early development and learning.

KeywordChina Early Childhood Education And Care Kindergarten Outdoor Play Quality
DOI10.1007/s13158-014-0114-9
URLView the original
Scopus ID2-s2.0-84925945419
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Document TypeJournal article
CollectionFaculty of Education
Corresponding AuthorKejian Li
Affiliation1.Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Macao, People’s Republic of China
2.Hangzhou Preschool Teachers College,Zhejiang Normal University at Hangzhou,Hangzhou,310012,China
3.Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute,University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,Chapel Hill,27599-8040,United States
4.The Central Kindergarten of Shaoxing County,Shaoxing,312300,China
First Author AffilicationFaculty of Education
Recommended Citation
GB/T 7714
Bi Ying Hu,Kejian Li,Allison De Marco,et al. Examining the Quality of Outdoor Play in Chinese Kindergartens[J]. International Journal of Early Childhood, 2015, 47(1), 53-77.
APA Bi Ying Hu., Kejian Li., Allison De Marco., & Yuewen Chen (2015). Examining the Quality of Outdoor Play in Chinese Kindergartens. International Journal of Early Childhood, 47(1), 53-77.
MLA Bi Ying Hu,et al."Examining the Quality of Outdoor Play in Chinese Kindergartens".International Journal of Early Childhood 47.1(2015):53-77.
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