Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025
06:00
Four Temporary Waterslide Designs Adapted to Different Slope Conditions to Encourage Child Socialization in Playgrounds
Published on: December 9, 2022
2.1K
A Low-Cost Method for Understanding How Nature-Based Early Learning and Childcare Impacts Children's Health and
Oliver Traynor1, Anne Martin1, Avril Johnstone1
1MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Psychology
|July 11, 2022
Summary
Nature-based early learning and childcare (ELC) programs in Scotland are popular but poorly understood. Developing a program theory using secondary data analysis clarifies how these programs function, supporting future evaluations and wider adoption.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Education
- Child Development Studies
- Early Childhood Education Policy
Background:
- Nature-based play and learning is growing in Scotland's early learning and childcare (ELC) sector.
- A lack of understanding of program function hinders learning and potential wider implementation.
- Existing research lacks a clear theoretical framework for nature-based ELC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a program theory for nature-based early learning and childcare (ELC) in Scotland.
- To explicate the underlying assumptions and causal pathways of nature-based ELC programs.
- To provide a framework for understanding and evaluating nature-based ELC initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Secondary data analysis of parent interviews (n=22) and observations (n=7) in Scottish ELC settings.
- Triangulation of secondary data with a review of 33 international studies.
- Application of the Theory of Change approach to construct a program theory.
Main Results:
- Key inputs identified: outdoor space location, affordances, trained practitioners, and transport.
- Activities include free play, educator-led sessions, and nature interaction.
- Outcomes comprise increased physical activity, social interaction, and environmental engagement, supporting holistic child development.
Conclusions:
- Secondary data analysis is valuable for understanding the theory of nature-based ELC.
- The developed program theory clarifies program function and supports evaluation design.
- Findings offer insights for practitioners, evaluators, and funders, with potential for international adaptation.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Naturalistic Observations
15.8K
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
15.8K
01:21Dimensions of Health and Illness
8.0K
The factors influencing the health-illness continuum can be internal or external and may or may not be under conscious control. They are related to the following eight human dimensions, and each dimension is interrelated to one other.
8.0K
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
169
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
169
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
3.5K
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
3.5K
01:29Environmental Influences on Intelligence
406
Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
406
01:21The Nativist Approach
122
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
122