The power of the outdoors: how outdoor activities shape children’s development through the eyes of parents

This qualitative study examined adults’ perceptions of children’s experiences in a researcher-led, nature-based program. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven parents and one teacher of children aged 36–72 months who attended weekly sessions for five weeks at a children’s library in Turkey. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Six themes emerged: (1) physical development and motor skills, (2) social skills and relationships, (3) emotional development, (4) cognitive development and curiosity, and (5) relationship with the environment and awareness and one contextual theme: (6) educational and environmental needs. Accounts were heterogeneous and appeared shaped by children’s baseline experiences and access to nature. Given the small, self-selecting, context-specific sample and the inclusion of a single teacher, findings are offered as transferable insights rather than generalizable claims. The study provides an adult-perception lens on how nature-based contexts may support early development and highlights practical design levers: space quality, sensory provision, and program continuity.