Manufactured vs nature: affecting children’s playtime engagement in a preschool playground

Abstract

This study explores the differences in children’s playtime engagement facilitating gross motor skill development between nature-based versus traditional manufactured equipment. These skills are foundational to affording children’s ability to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity. This is vital to establishing positive future health behaviors, and combatting chronic disease in youth and later life. A longitudinal comparison study was undertaken on children’s playtime engagement at a preschool with an annual enrollment of 36 children between the ages of 3 and 4 in the setting for the study. An existing playground layout with traditional equipment was renovated following a nature-based play philosophy to promote ‘green’ exercise. The new design included an earthen mound with boulders and a slide embedded in the hillside and tree stumps for loose object play. Children were observed and videotaped on the same days of the week, and at the same time of day. A grounded theory approach was employed to quantify and assess playtime engagement. Results indicate that an earthen mound can engage children equally in comparison to a manufactured climbing structure. The mound was also found to be more supportive of short and frequent bursts of play that are characteristic of this age group.