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ERIC Number: EJ1479607
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Aug
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1707
Available Date: 2024-08-17
Preschool Engineering Play on Nature Playscapes
Yuchang Yuan1; Wen Zeng2; Heidi Kloos1; Rhonda Brown1; Victoria Carr1
Early Childhood Education Journal, v53 n6 p2207-2216 2025
As an increasingly recognized facet of early childhood development, the integration of play into early STEM education is garnering attention. This paper delves into the role of engineering play within early childhood education, emphasizing its application in natural playscape settings. The focus is on investigating the extent to which engineering play can spontaneously emerge in such natural settings. To explore this, we analyzed extensive video footage of preschool children engaging in play on these playscapes. Our findings reveal a spontaneous occurrence of engineering play, highlighting three illustrative cases. These cases provide valuable insights into how playscapes, complemented by strategic adult involvement, can nurture young children's engineering skills and behaviors. The findings contribute to the growing evidence that young children are capable explorers, particularly in environments that offer a harmonious mix of structured and unstructured elements tailored to their developmental needs. This research has significant implications for early childhood education. It underscores the importance of incorporating engineering concepts into play-based learning and advocates for a nature-oriented pedagogical approach and curriculum. This approach not only promotes engineering thinking and practices among young learners but also advocates for a curriculum that nurtures these skills through playful, natural interactions.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1516191
Author Affiliations: 1The University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA; 2University of Missouri – St. Louis, St. Louis, USA