Children’s Involvement in Free Play and the Use of Play Materials in the Outdoor Early Childhood Education and Care Environment

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the relationship between children’s involvement in free play and the use of play materials in outdoor environments. Our sample consisted of 935 video observations of the free play of 86 children in the outdoor spaces of eight Norwegian early childhood education and care (ECEC) institutions. Multilevel analysis revealed a positive association between children’s involvement in free outdoor play and their play with loose parts and movable materials. The results suggest that affording easy access to a variety of play materials to be used simultaneously in the outdoor ECEC environment can intensify children’s involvement in their play activities.