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The Development and Validation of an Outdoor Free Play Scale for Preschool Children

Author

Listed:
  • Sixian Li

    (School of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China)

  • Qianyi Jiang

    (State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Chenyu Deng

    (School of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China)

Abstract

Children’s outdoor free play, which is characterized by intensive physical engagement and diverse social interactions, plays a unique role in early childhood development and education. However, existing scales cannot comprehensively measure children’s performance in outdoor free play. The research purpose of this study was to develop and validate an Outdoor Free Play Scale for Children-Preschool Version (OFPS-P) with good reliability and validity, in order to provide a practical tool for teachers to understand the level of children’s outdoor free play. Based on the review of existing scales of children’s play and the uniqueness of children’s outdoor free play, we developed a scale with 12 items and validated the scale with two samples of preschool children with exploratory (n sample1 = 140) and confirmatory (n sample2 = 241) factor analyses. Four factors were identified in this scale: physical fitness, approaches to learning, social interaction, and imagination. The results indicated good reliability and validity of OFPS-P, which can be used to evaluate preschool children’s performance on outdoor free play and to support teachers’ effective support in outdoor play activities in kindergartens.

Suggested Citation

  • Sixian Li & Qianyi Jiang & Chenyu Deng, 2022. "The Development and Validation of an Outdoor Free Play Scale for Preschool Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:350-:d:1015216
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Avril Johnstone & Anne Martin & Rita Cordovil & Ingunn Fjørtoft & Susanna Iivonen & Boris Jidovtseff & Frederico Lopes & John J. Reilly & Hilary Thomson & Valerie Wells & Paul McCrorie, 2022. "Nature-Based Early Childhood Education and Children’s Social, Emotional and Cognitive Development: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-30, May.
    2. repec:mpr:mprres:4373 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Julie Ernst & Firdevs Burcak, 2019. "Young Children’s Contributions to Sustainability: The Influence of Nature Play on Curiosity, Executive Function Skills, Creative Thinking, and Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-22, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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