Beyond Size: The Elusive Predictors of Outdoor Time in Early Childhood Settings

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Health and Well-Being in Early Childhood (Table 11)

Abstract

This study characterizes children's outdoor time in Chilean early childhood education centers (ECEC). Through a mixed-methods approach, 521 educators were surveyed to characterize outdoor environments, examine usage variations by age, and gather suggestions for increasing outdoor time. Despite clear benefits, Chilean children spend less time outdoors than their international peers, missing vital affordances. Surprisingly, the size of outdoor spaces was the only relevant predictor. Educators highlighted the need for more equipment, greenery, and covered areas, yet environment features showed weak correlations with actual outdoor time. The findings suggest that other, more elusive factors, possibly related to educators' perceptions and practices, need to be explored to effectively increase outdoor time.

Authors

• Montserrat Cubillos, Universidad del Desarrollo

• Anna Ferranty, Universidad del Desarrollo