Banumathe, KR and Ram, Vineeta I and Pinto, Alzeena and Jonathan, Samuel (2012) An Observational Study on Sensory Based Outdoor Play PreferenceS in children aged between 3 - 12 years : A Preliminary Study. International Journal of Current Research and Review, 4 (17). 20 -28. ISSN 2231-2196

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Abstract

Aim: To find sensory based outdoor play preferences of children between the ages 3 -12 years. Method: 90 normal children were observed by 3 raters for 30 minutes minimum, while engaged in free play at outdoor playgrounds. Play preferences were observed for the affinity towards certain sensory components; tactile, auditory, vestibular and proprioception. The most observable sensory based play preferences were noted for quality and frequency and the children were scored on a 7 point Likert scale. The data was then grouped by age into 3 groups, 1, 2 and 3; 3.1 to 6 years, 7.1 to 9 years and 10.1 to 12 years respectively and analyzed using SPSS, version 16. Results: On analysis of data between the groups showed that there was significant difference at p<0.05 levels for tactile, auditory and proprioceptive except vestibular based play preferences at p>0.05 levels. Auditory based play preferences showed a significant difference at p<0.05 level to other preferences for group 1. Group 2 showed significant difference between all sensory based play preferences at p< 0.05 levels and for group 3, no significant difference between auditory and tactile based play preferences at p>0.05 levels and significant difference between the rest of the components at p<0.05 levels. It also inferred tactile and auditory based play preferences decrease while proprioceptive and vestibular based play preferences increase with the increase in age. Conclusion: These findings proved that sensory based outdoor play preferences of children exist and differ between the ages 3 to 12 years.

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