2023 ASLA STUDENT AWARDS

Plants have the potential to support all domains of early childhood development when carefully selected. This research exclusively focuses on the loose parts play value of plant parts in early childhood play and learning environments. Statistics regarding childcare centers in the USA show that the number of children who go to preschool every day is more than 11 million.

Since the majority of preschoolers in the USA spend a large portion of their lives in childcare facilities, if different plants with play values can be introduced in the outdoor play areas of these childcare centers, then it can be a potential opportunity to promote the interaction of children with nature-based loose parts and enhance their play and learning behavior.