Changes in children's nature-based experiences near home: from spontaneous play to adult-controlled,planned and organised activities |
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| Authors: | Margrete Skår Erling Krogh |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Section for Learning and Teacher Education, Department of Mathematical Sciences and Technology , University of Life Sciences , NO-1432 Aass, Norway and Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fakkelgaarden, NO-2624 Lillehammer, Norway;2. Section for Learning and Teacher Education, Department of Mathematical Sciences and Technology , University of Life Sciences , NO-1432 Aas, Norway |
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| Abstract: | A qualitative case study from Brumunddalen, Norway, indicates that children's use of nature areas near their homes have changed substantially from being spontaneous and self-initiated to being part of planned, organised and adult-controlled activities. This study explores the association between changes in outdoor play and wider patterns of change in childhood today, as increasing amounts of play time is spent in institutions and organised activities, or occupied by computer and internet usage. The paper discusses these effects in terms of social relations as well as children's identity formation. The subject was investigated through adults' memories of their own childhood and their observations of children's practices. |
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| Keywords: | outdoors play nature near home |
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