What significance does the outdoor environment have in relation to other preschool environments, for educators' actions?

This study is investigating how preschool educators’ interactions in and with differentenvironments, with a specific focus on the preschool yard, become meaningful for theeducator’s actions in the preschool activities. The questions aimed to be answered in thestudy are: • How do educators’ actions in preschools develop in relation to: - the perceived, the conceived and the lived environment? - the preschool yards environments? The study used qualative method with semi-structured group interviews in three differentpre-schools. The preschool educators who participated in the study answered anddiscussed questions about environments in the preschool, with specific focus on thepreschool yard. With inspiration from “Production of space” (Lefvebre, 1991) the empirical data of thefocus groups were analyzed, and Nordin-Hultman`s (2004) concept of “becoming” is partof the discussions meaning making. This study is investigating and discussing how preschool teachers are acting and becomingin relation to the environment where the preschool activities take place. The results showhow interaction between material, mental and social dimensions become important for theteachers sense of opportunities and challenges to develop their pedagogical activities. Safety, socialization and design of in- and outdoor environments are some of the areasemphasized in these relations