Muddy knees and muddy needs: parents' perceptions of outdoor learning

Parsons, K. J.; Traunter, J.

Abstract

Research highlights that children across the UK access the outdoors less than previous generations, often at levels below that prescribed by the United Nations as a basic level of outdoor access for prisoners. School staff and parents are intrinsic partners in facilitating children’s access to the outdoors and the associated learning opportunities it presents. There exists however a complex set of relationships and perceptions governing the dynamics of these relationships and the resultant access to opportunities presented by learning outdoors. This paper aims to explore these perceptions by examining data collected through a combination of questionnaires and interviews with parents and teachers. The results indicate a significant disconnect in parent and teacher perceptions related to the purpose and opportunities for learning outdoors. These findings have a range of important implications for early childhood educators, parents and others looking to promote the outdoors as a learning environment across the foundation stage.

Citation

Parsons, K. J., & Traunter, J. (2020). Muddy knees and muddy needs: parents' perceptions of outdoor learning. Children's Geographies, 18(6), 699-711. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2019.1694637

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 7, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Nov 26, 2019
• Publication Date: 2020
• Deposit Date: Jan 7, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 27, 2020
• Journal: Children's Geographies
• Print ISSN: 1473-3285
• Electronic ISSN: 1473-3277
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 699-711
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2019.1694637
• Keywords: Outdoors; Learning outside the classroom; Children's play spaces; Perceptions; Parents voices
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3351892
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14733285.2019.1694637?journalCode=cchg20