This paper describes a behavior mapping protocol designed to observe children's play in natural play spaces. The paper includes a discussion of how this protocol can be “highly useful for defining children's outdoor play behaviors and for evaluating the elements of natural play spaces.” A case study illustrates the value of this behavior mapping approach.
Behavior mapping uses direct observation of behavior, along with a map of the space in which the behavior occurs. In using this protocol, observers first record the specific location of the observed participant on a map of the observation site. They then record the type of behavior observed in that location, along with the social and environmental conditions. The authors recommend including the following attributes for each observed play event: 1) basic demographic information about the observed child (gender and age group); 2) primary play types (such as imaginary, exploratory, etc.); 3) type of peer interaction (solitary, cooperative, conflict, etc.); 4) intensity of physical activity; 5) wildlife interaction (observing, handling, talking about, etc.); and 6) environmental interactions (including how affordances, such as sticks, water, benches, etc., are used).
The case study illustrating the use of this behavior mapping protocol was conducted in the outdoor space of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Three observers used the protocol over a seven-day period to capture the behavior of children playing in this space. Their data -- which included 826 observations of children -- showed that the behavior mapping protocol was helpful in confirming that the environmental features in the outdoor area supported opportunities for physically active play. Exploratory play, which in 82% of the time included interaction with loose parts (sticks, pine cones, etc.), was the most frequently observed play activity. These findings lend support to the importance of loose parts in promoting imaginative and exploratory play in natural play spaces.
While behavior mapping has been used for many years in recording environment-behavior interactions, the protocol outlined in this paper adds a new dimension by addressing the unique conditions of children's play in outdoor play spaces. This protocol can be adapted to document children's play activities in a wide range of outdoor spaces. The results can then be used to evaluate different elements of such spaces. This information can be of utmost importance in the planning and provision of outdoor play spaces for children.
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