• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.467-474
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• 2017

The objective of this study is to analyze teachers' experience in the operation of outdoor play in an early childhood educational institute. For this purpose, the experience obtained in planning/operating the outdoor play in early childhood educational institutes, as well as the difficulties experienced in their operational process, were examined. The data was collected through interviews with eight early childhood teachers. In the results of the study, first, the teachers' perception of outdoor play was analyzed. The teachers considered outdoor play as meaningful in that the children could develop gross/fine-motor skills, have the chance to develop their sociality, relieve their stress, and also commune with nature through outdoor play. Second, regarding the plan/operation of the outdoor play activities, even though they aimed to provide the children with meaningful outdoor play activities through various materials and methods, most of the teachers could not put their original plans into practice, because of the numerous variables in the actual site. The teachers' difficulties included insufficient time, spatial limitations, and insufficient qualifications for play instruction.

• The Journal of Learner-Centered Curriculum and Instruction (JLCCI)
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.729-756
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• 2018

This study investigated how quality outdoor play is implemented in preschools in England and Finland. The four preschools in each country which were known as high quality in terms of outdoor play were selected as samples. The researcher visited these institutions twice, once in warm season and once in cold season as the outdoor play is implemented differently according to the weather and seasons. She observed children's outdoor play, the environment of outdoor areas, resources and materials provided, the management of outdoor areas in terms of time and space. She also interviewed with the educators in order to find out their perspectives on the importance and values of outdoor play. The results showed that the outdoor areas of these preschools were characterized as 'towards nature', and the outdoor play was implemented for 'wellbeing and health'. The outdoor areas were opened in all weathers and risky play was allowed. However, challenges and safety were co-existed by achieving balance between proper safety check and challenging and risky play. They pursuit the integration of indoor and outdoor activities, beyond just simple outdoor play, through constitution of a variety of areas and various resources and materials in outdoor environment. They encouraged children's autonomy and independence through child-initiative play and activities among children by regarding children's interests and choices. In preschools in our country, we need to consider these characteristics of outdoor play in England and Finland in order to promote children's wellbeing and health, connection and extension of indoor and outdoor play and activities, children's initiatives, imagination, creativity, and problem-solving capacity.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.185-210
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• 2013

The purpose of the study was to observe and categorize daily routines of infant classes in daycare centers based on quantity of indoor and outdoor free play, group activities and nap/rest and explore differences in infants' play and teacher's behavior according to daily routine types. A team of trained observer observed daily routines and teacher's behavior of 26 infant classes from 7 daycare centers for two days and teachers evaluated 164 infants' playfulness. As a result daily routines of infant classes were categorized into two types: "Indoor & Outdoor Free Play Oriented" and "Group Activities & Rest Oriented". Infants' playfulness of "Indoor & Outdoor Free Play Oriented" groups were higher than that of "Group Activities & Rest Oriented" groups. Teachers from "Indoor & Outdoor Free Play Oriented" groups were found to have more experiences in the field and also they showed more positive and neutral guidance than the others.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.203-214
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• 2010

This study will examine the current condition of outdoor play in child care centers and the overall perception of teachers on outdoor play in regards to its related programs and children's reaction to them. Through examining such issues, this study will provide the basic data that can be applied in planning appropriate outdoor play activities, programs and environments. For the study, we surveyed teachers and directors of child care centers using a structured questionnaire. The objects of the survey were 22 child care centers in Daejeon and Seoul, who agreed to conduct the survey. The survey was conducted from August 1 to September 30 2006; 220 copies were distributed, and 188 copies were collected. The results of the study can be summarized as follows: 1) The number of outdoor plays per week were on average 1~2 in most cases, although teachers believed the play should be done everyday. Outdoor play time was mostly 21~30 minutes, while teachers thought 31~40 minutes as appropriate. Children's reaction scored the highest when they played outdoors for 30 minutes every day with their teachers involved in the play. As a result, we have concluded that the appropriate outdoor play should be conducted everyday for 30~40 minutes. 2) Outdoor play was mostly conducted as part of the overall educational plan rather than a separate plan. Since outdoor play affects children's development as much as indoor play, there is a need for development of a specific and separate plan for various outdoor play programs. 3) The outdoor play program that was most often conducted was equipment play and sand play. This indicated the monolithic nature of the outdoor program. Given the fact that children enjoy outdoor plays a lot (M=4.71), various programs including adventure play, sensitive play, and carpenter play should be developed. 4) In outdoor play, the teacher's role included supervising and interacting with children. According to the survey, teachers had a good understanding of the importance on safety and supervising issues in outdoor plays. However they seemed to overlook the importance of having better programs and improving teacher's participation to the play. Despite the importance of outdoor play to children's development, the result shows that teachers have tendencies to limit and obstruct outdoor plays by emphasizing supervising and safety issues instead. 5) Children's safety should not be the only consideration for outdoor plays; teachers ought to better understand that children's development can be maximized by the play. Furthermore, there should be emphasis placed on the program development and teacher's participation; teacher's participation should actively encourage the interactions between a child and a teacher, as well as among children.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2015

Busan Metropolitan City lacks leisure-oriented spaces for children compared to other cities. Furthermore, it is difficult to maintain the amusement facilities for children scattered around the city due to the fact that they were worn out. To set up a leisure-oriented park for children on the site for children amusement facilities, the present study is concerned about planning children amusement facilities for public use compatible with the new trend for children amusement facilities. For this purpose, a number of case studies, carried out domestic and abroad on developing children amusement facilities, were examined to choose appropriate facilities and feasible project plans were drawn up. Major findings of the study are as follows. First, it is strongly suggested that this project should be promoted because it is a leading pilot project for building children theme parks for each zone in Busan Metropolitan City. Second, it is suggested that field study programs should be run in connection with Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.309-322
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate actual environment and operation of outdoor play at day care centers in Jeju area and differences in recognition of outdoor play among teachers and provide basic data to develop an outdoor play program for infants. For this purpose, data were collected from 207 teachers form about 100 day care centers in Jeju area. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: first, there were statistically significant differences in the actual environment of outdoor play mostly by the types of establishment and national, public, or corporate centers had better environment than private ones did. Second, the majority of day care centers in Jeju area were including and operating outdoor play in a daily schedule. Third, there were no significant differences in recognition of outdoor play among teachers.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.85-94
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• 2017

This study researched the meaning of the outdoor play spaces used by young children, as perceived by them and their teachers. For this purpose, indirect observation, nonformal interviews during the activity of young children and in-depth interviews with teachers were conducted in 3 kindergartens and 1 day care center which operate various programs. As a result, outdoor play spaces were recognized as a psychological space, expanded space and sequential space for the relationships of young children. Meanwhile, early childhood teachers perceived them as a functional space, expanded space and restricted space of the children's daily lives. It was recognized that outdoor play spaces provided the children with good and unstructured environments to reorganize their own daily pattern through expanded play and the chance to naturally form peer relationships. This suggests that the space configuration which is most suitable for child centered development is one that is formed within and by their daily lives, rather than the standardized configuration of outdoor play spaces.