Free Play Use of Space by Preschoolers From Diverse Backgrounds: Factors Influencing Activity Choices

Analyses were made of the location and quality of free play of 244 3- to 5-year-olds from 6 different preschool and day-care centers. Although socioeconomic status and ethnicity were confounded with amount of space and the range of choices available, 13 play sites/activities could account for at least half the children's time in every center. There was no simple relation between the amount of space allocated to a setting and the proportion of time that the children used it. Patterns of use varied as a function of weather-related accessibility in spacious facilities. Differences across samples drawn from the same SES/ethnic pool indicated that the particular make-up of a group (the "cohort") in the same physical context can affect specific patterns of usage. Among children drawn from all 6 centers, there were sex differences in time spent in 5 of 9 common play sites. Moreover, across centers and a broader spectrum of areas, certain play sites consistently yielded different patterns of social exchanges with peers and adults.