Early years and key stage 1 teachers’ attitudes towards outdoor and online play

Abstract

Children’s opportunities for outdoor play have declined (Nash, D. 2018. The Construction of the Decline of Children’s Outdoor Play as a Social Problem in the UK. Canterbury: Canterbury Christ Church University) whilst opportunities for online play are increasing (Berrett, B., J. Murphy, and J. Sullivan. 2012. “Administrator Insights and Reflections: Technology Integration in Schools.” The Qualitative Report 17 (1): 200–221). This study investigated early years/key stage 1 teachers’ attitudes towards outdoor and online play utilising (Rosenberg, M. J., and C. I. Hovland. 1960. “Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioural Components of Attitudes.” In Attitude Organization and Change, edited by M. Rosenberg, C. Hovland, W. McGuire, R. Abelson, and J. Brehm, 1–14. Connecticut: Yale University Press) tripartite model of attitudes. An online survey was employed with 30 early years/key stage 1 teachers, gaining an understanding of teachers’ attitudes towards outdoor and online play. In summary, results show there is significant variation in teachers’ attitudes towards outdoor and online play, whilst children’s opportunities for outdoor and online play within UK early education also remain infrequent and varied.