ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the differences in outdoor play provisions for Norwegian and Australian children attending early childhood education services. Despite large amounts of research evidence attesting to the importance of outdoor play for healthy development and learning, many children in Western countries, including Australia, have had their outside play opportunities greatly reduced. Norwegian educators view the outdoors as distinctly different from indoor environments in terms of what it offers children. Traditionally, Australia has been considered a country of people with a great fondness of the outdoors. Activities such as bushwalking, fishing, playing in the streets, frolicking at beaches, having picnics and barbecues, and impromptu sports in the countless parks have been regular occurrences for many children and families. Small playgrounds are one of the potential hindrances to sufficient quality outdoor play in Australian early childhood education settings. Limited information exists on the amount of time spent outdoors in Australian early childhood education services.
