Nature-based early childhood education for child health, wellbeing and development: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol

Johnstone, A. et al. (2020) Nature-based early childhood education for child health, wellbeing and development: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol. Systematic Reviews, 9, 226. (doi: 10.1186/s13643-020-01489-1) (PMCID:PMC7532588)

Abstract

Background: Several systematic reviews have reviewed the evidence relating to nature on aspects of children and adolescent’s health and wellbeing; however, none have looked at the associations or effectiveness of attending nature-based early childhood education (ECE). The main objective is to systematically review and synthesise the evidence to determine if nature-based ECE enhances children’s health, wellbeing and development. Methods: We will search the following electronic databases (from inception onwards): MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO, ERIC, SportDiscus, Australian Education Index, British Education Index, Child Development and Adolescent studies, and Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts. Grey literature will be identified searching dissertations and reports (e.g. Open Grey, Dissertations Theses Database [ProQuest], and Google Scholar). All types of studies (quantitative and qualitative) conducted in children (aged 2–7 years old) attending ECE who had not started education at primary or elementary school will be included. The exposure of interest will be nature-based ECE settings that integrate nature into their philosophy and/or curriculum and environment. The outcomes of interest will be all aspects of the child’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional health wellbeing and development. Two reviewers will independently screen full-text articles. The study methodological quality (or bias) will be appraised using appropriate tools. If feasible, a meta-analysis will be conducted using a random-effect model for studies similar in exposure and outcome. Where studies cannot be included in a meta-analysis, findings will be summarised based on the effect directions and a thematic analysis will be conducted for qualitative studies. Discussion: This systematic review will capture the state of the current literature on nature-based ECE for child health, wellbeing and development. The results of this study will be of interest to multiple audiences (including researchers and policy makers). Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Gaps for future research will be identified and discussed. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019152582

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Martin, Dr Anne and Thomson, Dr Hilary and Mccrorie, Dr Paul and Wells, Ms Valerie and Johnstone, Dr Avril
• Authors: Johnstone, A., Mccrorie, P., Cordovil, R., Fjørtoft, I., Iivonen, S., Jidovtseff, B., Lopes, F., Reilly, J. J., Thomson, H., Wells, V., and Martin, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: Systematic Reviews
• Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
• ISSN: 2046-4053
• ISSN (Online): 2046-4053
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Systematic Reviews 9:226
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
72762	1	Neighbourhoods and Communities	Anne Ellaway	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_UU_12017/10	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
72762	1	Neighbourhoods and Communities	Anne Ellaway	Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)	SPHSU10	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit