Materials available online

Theoretical perspectives

Children's right to play: An examination of the importance of play in the lives of children worldwide. [1] Lester, S., & Russell. W. (2010). Working papers in: Early Childhood Development. Bernard van Leer Foundation.

Outdoor affordances in early chidhood education and care settings: Adults' and children's perspectives. [2] Kernan, M.(2010). Children Youth and Environments 20(1). 152-177 (must register for a free account to access)

Outdoor Play: Does avoiding the risks reduce the benefits? [3]
Little, H., Wyver, S. (2010). Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 33(2) 33-40.

The contribution of early childhood education to a sustainable society [4]
Samuelsson, I. & Kaga,Y. (2008). United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Seven Cs: An informational guide to young children's outdoor playspaces [5]
Herrington, S., Lesmeister, C., Nicholls, J. & Stefiuk, K. Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre & Consortium for Health, Intervention, Learning and Development (CHILD)

Child care centre physical environments [6]
Beach, J. and Friendly, M. Quality by Design project [7], Childcare Resource and Research Unit, 2005

Spaces to play: More listening to young children using the mosaic approach [8](Google book preview)
Clark, A. & Moss, P. National Children's Bureau, 2005

Resurrecting free play in young children [9]
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 159:46-50, 2005

Content and construct validity of the Early Childhood Physical Environment Rating Scale (ECPERS) [10]
Sugiyama, T. and Moore, G. Paper presented at the 36th annual Environmental Design Research Association Conference, Vancouver, April 27-May 1, 2005.

Children's physical environment rating scale [11]
Moore, G., Sugiyama, T. & O'Donnell, L. University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2003

Young children and the natural world [12]
Phenice, L. & Griffore, R. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 4(2):167-171, 2003

Designed environments for young children: Empirical findings and implications for planning and design [13](Conference paper)
Moore, G. University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2001

Developmentally appropriate outdoor play environments for infants and toddlers [14]
Bernard van Leer Foundation, Working Papers in Early Childhood Development No.15, 1995. Jolley, J.

Learning landscapes: Theoretical issues and design considerations for the development of children's educational landscapes [15]
Weaver, L.I. Master's Thesis, Landscape Architecture, Virginia Tech

Resources and recommendations to inform practice

Children as designers or their own space [link no longer available]
Mindstretchers, May 2010

Early childhood outdoor learning environments - Visons and Values [16]
Government of South Australia, Department of Education and Children's Services, no date

Play Matters: A study of best practices to inform local policy and process in support of children's play. [17]
KaBoom! It starts with a playground, May 2010
- KaBoom [18] advocates for enriching play spaces to be available to all children, they have an extensive database of free online workshops, training and resources (print & online).

Children in Europe - Playing outside: why does it matter? [link no longer available]
Children in Scotland, August 2010
All issues of Children in Europe are now available to order online in either print format or instant PDF

Playing Outside: Play, nature and services for young children [link no longer available]
Key points: Children in Europe conference with Children in Scotland and Fife Council, Sept 2010

Why aren't the day care children playing outside? Flip flops, mulch and no coat [19]
Science News, May 2008

Design for Play: A guide to creating successful play spaces (pdf) [20]
Shackell, A., Butler, N., Doyle, P., Ball, D.
Play England, 2008
Visit Play England [21] for videos and more resources on outdoor play spaces.

Learning through farming in South Korea [22]
Lee, J. & Lee, J. O. Beyond the Journal: Young Children on the Web, November 2007

Play outside! Recommended resources for outdoor learning environments [link no longer available]
North Carolina Outdoor Learning Environments Alliance, 2007

Young children's relationship with nature: Its importance to children's development and the earth's future [23]
White, R. White Hutchinson Leisure and Learning Group, 2004

Benefits for children of play in nature [24]
White, R. White Hutchinson Leisure and Learning Group, 2004

Developmentally appropriate gardening for young children [25]
White Hutchinson Leisure and Learning Group, 2004

Best practices- the outdoor play experience [link no longer available]
Crossley, B. & Dietze, B. Canadian Child Care Federation, 2003

Opening the door to the outdoors [link no longer available]
Dietze, B. & Crossley, B. Canadian Child Care Federation, 2003

Outdoor play in winter- Wonderland or nightmare? [link no longer available]
Beckman, S. Canadian Child Care Federation, 2003

Research related to nature preschool [26]
Chippewa Nature Center, no date

Nature's benefits for children [27]
Backyard Nature, no date