Environments for Outdoor Play
A Practical Guide to Making Space for Children
- Theresa Casey - President of the International Play Association
"Recommending solid ideas for developing play environments that meet children's needs, chapters discuss frameworks for designing play environments, case studies offering examples of how play environments can be developed, ideas and activities, research evidence pointing toward the importance of good play environments, and more."
—MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
This book provides readers with ideas for developing play environments that will meet the needs of the children in their care. The author illustrates how improving the play environment offers positive ways for dealing issues ranging from inclusion to playground management and the need to promote physical activity.
This resource includes:
- Clear frameworks for designing play environments
- Case studies showing examples of how play environments can be developed
- Ideas and activities for developing designs with children's participation
- Illustrations, photographs, and practical examples
- Research supporting the importance of good play environments
Ideal for practitioners and managers in all early years and for students in education, early childhood, child care and playwork courses, this handbook is also relevant to playground designers, landscape architects and community education and development workers.
'This practical book helps the reader plan, design and manage the kinds of settings that afford children the opportunities to carry out the wide range of self-directed activities that are so important to their development. It’s ideal for community development workers, the organizers of after-school programs, children’s hospital staff and groups of caring parents' - Roger A. Hart, Director of the Children’s Environments Research Group, The Graduate School of the City University of New York
"Recommending solid ideas for developing play environments that meet children's needs, chapters discuss frameworks for designing play environments, case studies offering examples of how play environments can be developed, ideas and activities, research evidence pointing toward the importance of good play environments, and more."
—MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
This is a well set out book, it is very user friendly. It is full of good ideas and insights for learners.
A good book that explain the outdoor play as a learning resource in EY.
As we have focused on creativity and using a range of teaching strategies, this has proven to be a very helpful book to develop thoughts and ideas.
The book is easily accessable for students and provides practical tips for using outdoor spaces with children. The layout and presentation of information makes it suitable for the use in an applied course in Early Childhood Care and Education.
During my sessions on outdoor learning I will refer to this text, especially for those trainees who have a specialism within the early years.
Very user friendly and enjoyable with great examples and practical ideas
Given the need for a greater understanding in early education for planning for outdoor play in day care setting, this book is of interest to practitioners as well as those involved in Early Education training delivery.
During the module on Communication, Learning and Play, my first year B.Ed students have a session on planning outdoor play. This book will be recommended reading for that session.
