Places, spaces and encounters with nature - socio-material discourses in Swedish preschools

Abstract

This article investigates views and discourses on outdoor play in preschool teachers talks about their playgrounds and outdoor practices in Swedish preschools. Included were a strategic sample of teachers from newer, larger preschool facilities with more programmed outdoor space, and teachers from older, more traditional facilities containing more nature. Through interviews with 38 teachers at 21 preschools and a thematic analysis inspired by socio-material theory, we identified three main themes: The meanings and limits of free outdoor play, the view on nature and children's encounters with nature,and dangers and risks in the playground. Within these themes, we show how the teachers' views construct discourses related to the outdoor educational places and spaces that are available. Furthermore, changes in preschool curricula as well as in the playground material and design are active agents in constructing discourses on outdoor play, including risks and limitations, beyond teachers' own beliefs on children's needs.

Keywords

Preschool teachers; playgrounds; socio-material discourses

Published in

International Journal of Early Years Education
2024
Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

SLU Authors

• Mårtensson, Fredrika

  • Department of People and Society, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG4 Quality education

UKÄ Subject classification

Pedagogical Work

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2024.2307361

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/128495