Output details

Children’s participation in the design of physical activities conducted in the outdoors.

This research explored the application of design thinking in the context of residential outdoor learning with a particular focus on the contribution this experience may have on children ‘s preferences for learning and play through healthy physical activity in the outdoors. Eco-analysis and Personal Construct Psychology experiments were conducted with twenty children (aged eleven to twelve years), participating in a five-day residential stay at an outdoor learning centre in order to ascertain their play preferences before and after their stay. Analyses of data indicated that children had a preference for outdoor, physical play activity. However, their usual play typically involved only indoor, sedentary activity (e.g. games consoles and television) whilst at home. Evidence suggests that the desired play of children is being ignored in favour of the “plugged in environments’ found in the modern family home. This research highlights the importance of implementing outdoor learning policies and practice into the current UK curriculum on a more regular basis for the benefit of young children’s health and physical wellbeing. This article concludes with future recommendations for the implementation of new strategies for outdoor learning providers that would support and extend

children’s physical activity in the outdoors without destroying their enjoyment, exploration or play.

This article contains an important part of the original research conducted by Wood for her successful PhD study, on whose research supervisory team Bruce played a key role. Wood & Bruce completed the initial draft which was then commented on, modified and edited by Baxter. Bruce’s contribution also extended to guidance on the best selection and presentation of Wood’s material for inclusion in this journal and to the instigation of a technique for the early ethnographic fieldwork called ‘A Day in the Life of’. The final article was a joint effort led by Fiona Wood.