How do play behaviors differ between girls and boys?
The data collected in this study will help early childhood educators understand the value of outdoor play and create better outdoor play environments rich in experience and choices for children. Johnson (1996) concludes, “What the teacher learns through careful observation of the children playing during free times could prove invaluable for curriculum enrichment and give teachers insight into children’s socio-emotional and psychological needs” (p.85). The subjects for this study were preschoolers-six boys and six girls-enrolled at a private school in Austin, Texas. The setting was a newly constructed playground designed by Little Tikes, Inc. It included a superstructure, teeter-totter, blue and purple dinosaurs, loose surfacing (sand), rubber surfacing, loose parts, open space, sand and water table, swings, sand digger, sand box, wheeled vehicle path, playhouse, etc. Operational Definitions Equipment: All apparatus either permanently affixed or too heavy to be moved by the children. Ex
