Gabriela Bento (CIDTFF) | In Exploring the Pedagogy of Learning and Playing Outdoors – Questions of Purpose and Intention (pp. 1-13)
Abstract
An outdoor play approach, in early childhood education, frequently led to the questions: How do children prepare for school? How can we guarantee the accomplishment of the official preschool curriculum guidelines? The need to reply to these doubts demands analysis and reflection about children’s experiences during outdoor play.
The kindergarten of the National Association of Early Intervention (ANIP, Portugal) engaged in a process of pedagogical transformation, grounded in the recognition of the outdoors as a learning environment for children and adults.
This chapter gives practical examples of situations that show how professionals can assure outdoor learning through free initiative and play, responding to curricular guidelines. By emphasizing a more practical pedagogical understanding of outdoor play benefits and challenges that are not always addressed in scientific research, this chapter aims to support early childhood professionals to better understand children’s outdoor play and the adult role in these experiences.
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Referência:
Bento, G. (2025). Meeting pre-school curriculum guidelines through outdoor play experiences in a public park. In M. Mart, G. Gessiou & J. Waters-Davies (eds.), Exploring the Pedagogy of Learning and Playing Outdoors – Questions of Purpose and Intention (pp. 1-13). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003530480
