A Case Study on the Relationship between Children's Play Behaviors and Outdoor Play Environments of Child Care Center in Daejeon

실외놀이터 환경 특성과 아동 놀이행동과의 관계성 - 대전지역 어린이집의 사례분석을 중심으로 -

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between outdoor play environments and child's play behaviors. The data were collected by field measurement survey, and non-participatory observation from 9 child care centers in Daejeon. The field measurement survey were conducted from June 20 to July 20, 2004, whereas non-participatory behavior observation were conducted from September 2 to October 10, 2004. The major results showed the following. 1) The characteristics of outdoor play environment in child care centers showed that most of them were too small and did not use the adequate surfacing to play various activities. In many cases, outdoor play settings was made of play equipment setting, play props and manipulative settings, and tree/vegetation. 2) Child's play behavior has been focused on functional play activity and construction play activity. 3) The relationship between outdoor play environments and child's play behaviors showed that small outside play environment with monotonous construction and multi-complex play equipments produced functional play behaviors on children. On the other hand, where various play areas were put together, we could observe relatively diverse play behaviors. However, in some cases, despite the small and monotonous play area, diverse play behaviors were observed. These playgrounds at least differed from others in that they provided the place where multi purpose play was possible. This finding shows that multi purpose play areas can be an alternative in small playground environment.