Johnstone, A. et al. (2022) Nature-based early childhood education and children’s social, emotional and cognitive development: a mixed-methods systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(10), 5967. (doi: 10.3390/ijerph19105967) (PMID:35627504) (PMCID:PMC9142068)
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Abstract
This systematic review synthesised evidence on associations between nature-based early childhood education (ECE) and children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. A search of nine databases was concluded in August 2020. Studies were eligible if: (a) children (2–7 years) attended ECE, (b) ECE integrated nature, and (c) assessed child-level outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened full-text articles and assessed study quality. Synthesis included effect direction, thematic analysis, and results-based convergent synthesis. One thousand three hundred and seventy full-text articles were screened, and 36 (26 quantitative; 9 qualitative; 1 mixed-methods) studies were eligible. Quantitative outcomes were cognitive (n = 11), social and emotional (n = 13), nature connectedness (n = 9), and play (n = 10). Studies included controlled (n = 6)/uncontrolled (n = 6) before-after, and cross-sectional (n = 15) designs. Based on very low certainty of the evidence, there were positive associations between nature-based ECE and self-regulation, social skills, social and emotional development, nature relatedness, awareness of nature, and play interaction. Inconsistent associations were found for attention, attachment, initiative, environmentally responsible behaviour, and play disruption/disconnection. Qualitative studies (n = 10) noted that nature-based ECE afforded opportunities for play, socialising, and creativity. Nature-based ECE may improve some childhood development outcomes, however, high-quality experimental designs describing the dose and quality of nature are needed to explore the hypothesised pathways connecting nature-based ECE to childhood development (Systematic Review Registration: CRD42019152582).
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Funding: A.J. was supported by the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Child Care Directorate (grant number 307242-01). A.M. was supported by the UK Medical Research Council and Scottish Chief Scientific Officer (grant numbers MC_UU_12017/14, MC_UU_00022/1, SPHSU14, SPHSU16) and the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Child Care Directorate (grant number 307242-01). R.C. was partly supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, under Grant UIDB/00447/2020 to CIPER—Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana (unit 447). J.J.R. was supported by the Scottish Funding Council. H.T. and V.W. were supported by the UK Medical Research Council UK and Scottish Chief Scientific Officer (grant number MC_UU_12017-13, MC_UU_12017-15, MC_UU_022/2; SPHSU13, SPHSU15, SPHSU17). P.M. was supported by the UK Medical Research Council and Scottish Chief Scientific Officer (grant numbers MC_UU_12017/10, MC_UU_00022/4; SPHSU10, SPHSU19) and the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Child Care Directorate (grant number 307242-01). |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Thomson, Dr Hilary and Martin, Dr Anne and Mccrorie, Dr Paul and Wells, Ms Valerie and Reilly, Prof John and Johnstone, Dr Avril |
| Authors: | Johnstone, A., Martin, A., Cordovil, R., Fjørtoft, I., Iivonen, S., Jidovtseff, B., Lopes, F., Reilly, J. J., Thomson, H., Wells, V., and McCrorie, P. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU |
| Journal Name: | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
| Publisher: | MDPI |
| ISSN: | 1661-7827 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1660-4601 |
| Published Online: | 13 May 2022 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2022 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(10): 5967 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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