Annotated Bibliography

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Annotated bibliography For my dissertation I intend to research the topic of outdoor play for children. The main aspects I will be focusing on in my annotated bibliography will be the health benefits of outdoor play, barriers and obstacles that prevent schools/crèches from bringing children outdoors, children’s perspectives of the outdoors and the need to raise awareness of children’s rights to play outdoors. A lot of emphasis is placed on dangers of the outdoors but I think that early childhood practitioners can help children to learn how to make their own judgement on risk taking in their natural environment. I chose this topic because as a child I loved to play outside and I think that children should experience the outdoors as much as possible.…show more content…
Clinicians are given guidance from the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle which includes playing outdoors often. Playing outdoors is beneficial for mental health, vitamin D from sunlight, motor development, cognition and vision as reported by AAP. One study revealed that about half of all preschool-aged children are not being taken outside to play each day. According to research the activity levels at childcare are low, pre-schoolers hardly achieve 60 minutes of recommended moderate to vigorous physical activity during the day. This lack of time playing outside has showed how much childhood has evolved and how children’s lives are a lot more structured than they used to be. Another study in elementary schools showed that twenty-four states and 67% of schools had no P.E. policy, and 64% had no recess policy at all. Recess provides opportunities for free play and is connected with improved classroom behaviour. The most frequent barrier to the schools adoption of P.E. and recess polices was competing demands in the academic day. There is evidence that increasing time for P.E., by reducing time for academic subjects does not harm grades at all. Given the important health benefits of physical activity, the evidence should force decision makers to embrace policies promoting school-day physical…show more content…
The research was conducted using child led tours and photographic expression and conversations. The study showed that the setting offered places for socialising, pretending, moving and observing it was clear that these were highly valued by the children. The children were asked to take photos of the places that were important to them indoors as well, three of the children took photos through the door to the outside. This study proves that young children are able to provide valuable perspectives in matters that are importance to them. There has been many studies undertaken which have shown that children prefer the outdoors. Being outdoors allows children greater choice over materials, places and playmates. But if outdoor spaces are to appeal to children equipment and materials must be open ended, facilitate challenge and social engagement. Understanding what children think is important in outdoor spaces is crucial. These insights will be necessary to future decision making regarding outdoor provision, but they also provide an inspiration to those responsible for the design of curriculum and outdoor spaces at other settings for young

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