Investigating the Influence of Outdoor Play Environments on Social and Emotional Engagement among Pre-Scholars

Outdoor play has long been recognized as a vital component of early childhood development, providing children with opportunities to explore, interact, and learn in ways that go beyond the limitations of traditional indoor classroom settings. Numerous studies have demonstrated that outdoor environments play a significant role in promoting not only physical activity, but also cognitive, social, and emotional growth among young children (Dankiw et al., 2020; Moreira et al., 2022). The sensory-rich and dynamic features of outdoor settings allow children to engage in meaningful play that fosters creativity, independence, and decision-making skills (Mohamada et al., 2022). These unstructured and often nature-based environments encourage open-ended exploration, which in turn supports self-confidence and reduces anxiety. This freedom to explore and interact naturally nurtures emotional regulation and self-control, while also increasing children’s capacity for empathy as they respond to others in varied social contexts (Miranda et al., 2017).