We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of literacy and curriculum, but a big green playground can have a key role in a child’s social and cognitive development, and even curtail aggression, new research suggests.

It turns out playgrounds are for more than just play. Regular contact with outdoor play can improve everything from a child’s reasoning and coordination to her concentration and self-discipline, according to a summary of research in a Children, Youth and Environments article.

They even get sick less often, the report said.

While the opposite, a lack of space “has been connected with childhood aggression…Children in denser play areas exhibit more aggressive play and less cooperative play,” author Susan Herrington wrote. (See the story for citations, though you will have to register.)

The research on Canadian child care also broke plenty of new ground, including showing that teachers value bigger play spaces, with lots of trees, grass and more challenging structures.

“First, the study makes a strong connection between the presence of plant material and positive perceptions of ECE (early childhood educators) regarding their outdoor play spaces. This suggests that centers looking to improve their outdoor play spaces might consider planting hardy, non-toxic vegetation.” – “Perspectives from the Ground: Early Childhood Educators’ Perceptions of Outdoor Play Spaces at Child Care Centers.”

In the debates over what is and isn’t quality early learning don’t forget the playground.
               
Full article: Herrington, Susan (2008). “Perspectives from the Ground: Early Childhood Educators’ Perceptions of Outdoor Play Spaces at Child Care Centers.” Children, Youth and Environments 18(2): 64-87.

Breaking News: EarlyStories has an interesting story on a pre-k expansion fight: “Pre-k expansion in Tennessee could come at a cost.”