An exploration of infant and toddler unstructured outdoor play (quantitative research)

An exploration of infant and toddler unstructured
outdoor play
Danae Dinkel, Kailey Snyder, Tyler Patterson, Shane Warehime,
Miriam Kuhn & Debora Wisneski (2019) An exploration of infant and toddler unstructured
outdoor play, European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 27:2, 257-271, DOI:
10.1080/1350293X.2019.1579550


Quantitative research 

The outdoor play environment influences infants’ and toddlers’ physical and social play behaviors; however, more research is needed to determine the optimal environment for development.

Unfortunately, young children are spending a concerning amount of time in sedentary behaviors (Lauricella, Wartella, and Rideout 2015; Prioreschi et al. 2017). For example, a study by Prioreschi et al. (2017) found 3-month-old infants were already watching 30 minutes of television per day and spending over 2 hours per
day in restrained activities (e.g. car seat).


additional research is needed to explore how to support children’s engagement in unstructured outdoor play --> this is a research gap that my research aims at filling in 

childcare facilities are prime locations to promote play --> increasing number of children attending childcare

Although unstructured outdoor play is essential to the growth and development of children, little is known about the outdoor play behaviors of children less than three years old. 

Additional research is needed to continue to explore the impact staff promotion efforts, sociodemographic variables, and environmental factors have on infant and toddlers unstructured outdoor play.




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