Giant tree versus iPad kids: Reflecting on childhood outdoor play, then and now

Childhood play experiences, particularly outdoor play, positively affect children’s holistic development and well-being. This qualitative study examined teacher education students’ perceptions through retrospective reflection on their own childhood play experiences in the past (then) compared to contemporary children’s play at present (now) to recognize the value of childhood play. Ten student teachers enrolled in various teacher education programs at one university participated in this study. Analyzing a drawing task and interviews revealed that participants recalled outdoor play as their favorite childhood play experiences, engaging in unstructured and child-initiated activities, taking risks, and creating their own rules. These outdoor experiences not only fostered social interactions but also nurtured a special emotional bond with the natural environment where they grew up and played. Furthermore, participants reported that children’s play has changed in recent times, with a decline in outdoor play due to increased parental safety concerns and the prevalence of technological devices. The teaching implications regarding prioritizing outdoor play, as well as the intersection of outdoor play and digital technology, are discussed.