ASSESSING CHILDREN’S CONNECTEDNESS TO NATURE THROUGH THEIR INTEREST IN NATURAL ELEMENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v18i13.783Keywords:
children, connectedness to nature, drawing, natural elementsAbstract
This study aims to assess children’s connectedness to nature (CTN) through drawing based on their preferences and interest in natural elements in spaces. A sequential explanatory mixed-method research design was employed to achieve the aim. For the quantitative part, questionnaires were distributed to 760 children in 20 schools located in Kedah and Penang, Malaysia. For the qualitative part, 72 children were grouped into draw and focus groups. The children in the qualitative part were chosen from low-, moderate- and high-level CTN groups. The results confirm that children’s CTN can be assessed through their drawing based on their interest in natural elements in spaces. The findings indicated that children from the high-level CTN group had more interest in natural elements in spaces compared to the children in the moderate- and low-level of CTN groups.Downloads
References
Abebe, T., & Ennew, J. (2009). The right to be properly researched: How to do rights-based, scientific research with children. Bangkok: Black on White Publications.
Ballantyne, R., & Packer, J. (2002). Nature-based excursions: School students’ perceptions of learning in natural environments. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 11(3), 218-236.
Bizerril, M. X. A. (2004). Children’s perceptions of Brazilian Cerrado landscapes and biodiversity. The Journal of Environmental Education, 35(4), 47-58.
Chawla, L. (2006). Research methods to investigate significant life experiences: Review and recommendations. Environmental Education Research, 12(3), 359-374.
Chawla, L. (2007). Childhood experiences associated with care for the natural world: A theoretical framework for empirical results. Children, Youth and Environments, 17(4), 144-170.
Jansson, M., Gunnarsson, A., Martensson, F., & Andersson, S. (2014). Children’s perspectives on vegetation establishment: Implications for school ground greening. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 13(1), 166-174.
Jorgensen, A., & Anthopoulou, A. (2007). Enjoyment and fear in urban woodlands - Does age make a difference? Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 6(4), 267-278.
Kellert, S. R. (2005). Nature and childhood development. In Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature Connection (pp. 63-89). Washington, DC: Island Press.
Korpela, K., Kytta, M., & Hartig, T. (2002). Restorative experience, self-regulation, and children’s place preferences. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 22(4), 387398.
Labintah, S., & Shinozaki, M. (2014). Children drawing: Interpreting school-group student’s learning and preferences in environmental education program at TanjungPiai National Park, Johor Malaysia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 116, 3765-3770.
Lin, B. B., Gaston, K. J., Fuller, R. A., Wu, D., Bush, R., & Shanahan, D. F. (2017). How green is your garden?: Urban form and socio-demographic factors influence yard vegetation, visitation, and ecosystem service benefits. Landscape and Urban Planning, 157, 239-246.
Lohr, V. I., & Pearson-mims, C. H. (2005). Children’s active and passive interactions with plants inflence their attitudes and actions towards trees and gardening as adults. HorTechnology, 15(3), 472-476.
Loukaitou-sideris, A. (2003). Children’s common grounds: A study of intergroup relations among children in public settings. Journal of the American Planning Association, 69(2), 130-143.
Mahidin, A. M. M., & Maulan, S. (2012). Understanding children preferences of natural environment as a start for environmental sustainability. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 38, 324-333.
Thompson, C. W., Aspinall, P., & Montarzino, A. (2007). The childhood factor: Adult visits to green places and the significance of childhood experience. Environment and Behavior, 40(1), 111-143.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright & Creative Commons Licence
eISSN: 0128-0945 © Year. The Authors. Published for Malaysia Institute of Planners. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.
The authors hold the copyright without restrictions and also retain publishing rights without restrictions.
