Nature as a part of children’s health promotion in Finnish daycare centers
Pajarinen, Lotta (2020)
Pajarinen, Lotta
2020
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020121628649
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020121628649
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this Bachelor’s thesis was to clarify how nature is utilized in Finnish daycare centers for promoting children’s health and what are the possible health benefits nature creates. The thesis aimed to provide an overview of the current role of nature in health promotion in daycare centers as well as share possible future prospects around the topic. The theoretical framework of the thesis defines the concepts of Finnish early childhood education, nature, health and well-being as well as nature’s role in health promotion. The Act on Early Childhood Education and Care (540/2018) and the National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care (2018) together with other relevant sources created the base for the theoretical part.
The thesis was implemented as a narrative overview. By comparing the results of six national studies the thesis aimed to convey new conclusions on the topic. In order to find comparable studies inclusion and exclusion criteria were set for the data collection including national research implemented in Finnish daycare centers. Qualitative content analysis was used as the data analysis method. The results indicated that nature supported the fulfillment of children’s basic needs such as healthy nutrition and adequate rest. Natural environments promoted children’s physical activity, creative play and use of imagination. The thesis found that nature contacts promoted children’s health in urban daycare centers. In conclusion, the absence of green spaces in modern societies causes different health related risks and daycare centers have the possibility to ensure children’s nature contacts in urban environments. National decision-making is in a key position for ensuring children’s sufficient exposure to a natural environment in their early childhood.
The thesis was implemented as a narrative overview. By comparing the results of six national studies the thesis aimed to convey new conclusions on the topic. In order to find comparable studies inclusion and exclusion criteria were set for the data collection including national research implemented in Finnish daycare centers. Qualitative content analysis was used as the data analysis method. The results indicated that nature supported the fulfillment of children’s basic needs such as healthy nutrition and adequate rest. Natural environments promoted children’s physical activity, creative play and use of imagination. The thesis found that nature contacts promoted children’s health in urban daycare centers. In conclusion, the absence of green spaces in modern societies causes different health related risks and daycare centers have the possibility to ensure children’s nature contacts in urban environments. National decision-making is in a key position for ensuring children’s sufficient exposure to a natural environment in their early childhood.