Preschool Children's Biophilia and Attitudes toward Nature: The Effect of Personal Experiences

Autor/inn/en	Yanez, Ruddy E.; Fees, Bronwyn S.; Torquati, Julia
Titel	Preschool Children's Biophilia and Attitudes toward Nature: The Effect of Personal Experiences
Quelle	In: International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 5 (2017) 1, S.57-67 (11 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	2331-0464
Schlagwörter	Preschool Children; Attitude Measures; Urban Areas; Rural Areas; Natural Resources; Comparative Analysis; Environment; Geographic Location; Ecology; Conservation (Environment); Child Behavior; Predictor Variables; Hypothesis Testing; Preschool Education; Coding; Qualitative Research; Statistical Analysis; Semi Structured Interviews + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Pre-school age; Preschool age; Child; Children; Pre-school education; Preschool education; Vorschulalter; Kind; Kinder; Vorschulkind; Vorschulkinder; Vorschulerziehung; Vorschule; Urban area; Stadtregion; Rural area; Ländlicher Raum; Natural Ressource; Natürliche Ressource; Umwelt; Ökologie; Conservation; Environment; Konservierung; Bewahung; Prädiktor; Hypothesenprüfung; Hypothesentest; Codierung; Programmierung; Qualitative Forschung; Statistische Analyse
Abstract	Regular engagement outside may promote healthy physical and psychological development as well as a respect and appreciation for nature. This exploratory study compared biophilia and attitudes toward nature between young children living in an urban area to those in a rural area. Urban and rural areas may offer different opportunities for exposure and engagement with elements such as water, plants, and animals. A comparison between young children in these settings may determine if experience in these different environments affects their attitudes and biophilia. Thirty-six children (urban n = 27; rural n = 9) participated in one-on-one structured interviews about their attitudes toward and being in nature. Results revealed no significant difference in biophilia between children by geographical area. Common themes in children's attitudes emerged: 1) young children define nature by identifying specific elements; 2) young children are aware that their actions have consequences for the condition of the natural environment; and 3) children understood that the expectations guiding behavior in the natural environment apply to everyone. Preschool children's level of cognitive maturity and individual preferences may be better predictors of biophilia and attitude than location alone. Authors suggest implications for teachers and parents. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	North American Association for Environmnental Education. 2000 P Street NW Suite 540, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-419-0412; Web site: https://naaee.org/eepro/resources/international-journal-early-childhood-environmental-education-ijecee
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01