Date Approved
4-30-2022
Graduate Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Education-Instruction and Curriculum: Early Childhood Education (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
College of Education
First Advisor
Nagnon Diarrassouba
Academic Year
2021/2022
Abstract
Risky play is a thrilling form of play that has the potential for some injury and is a biologically innate need within all children that provides a variety of physical, mental, and emotional benefits to children. Currently however, preschool and kindergarten classrooms in the United States offer little to no opportunities for risky play in early childhood settings. The main factor that influences the amount of risky play happening in early childhood classrooms is teacher attitudes related to risky play; if teachers have a negative attitude about risky play, less risky play is allowed in their classroom setting. This project examines three themes that are influential in striving to increase educator positive attitudes related to risky play in preschool and kindergarten classrooms within the United States. These themes have been used to create a professional development program for educators, which through consistent and accurate implementation will aim to increase educator positive attitudes toward risky play and therefore the amount of risky play happening in preschool and kindergarten classrooms.
ScholarWorks Citation
Zuiderveen, Kelsey Stark, "Increasing the Prevalence of Risky Play In Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms in the United States" (2022). Culminating Experience Projects. 130.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/130
Included in
Early Childhood Education Commons, Outdoor Education Commons, Pre-Elementary, Early Childhood, Kindergarten Teacher Education Commons
