1. Huron Valley Recreation
Parental Attitudes toward Nature and their Association with their Children’s Outdoor Play
Colleen Triezenberg
Huron Valley Recreation
& Community Education
mParks Conference
February 2nd, 2017

2. What to expect… My Background Reason behind my Research
Problem & Research Question
Results
Program Opportunities
Hearing from YOU!
Q&A

3. Little about Me… Michigan Native (Novi, MI) Loyola University Chicago
Women’s division 1 soccer program
NC State Graduate (Masters of Science)
Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
North Carolina Recreation Park Association (NCRPA)
Wellness Coordinator
Huron Valley Recreation and Community Education
Recreation Manager
Physical
Reduces risk of overweight and obesity, some cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychological disorders.
Outdoor activity is a strong predictor of adult physical activity.
Psychological:
Reduces symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression, anxiety, stress, and narcissism.
Increases problem solving, self-regulation and to value intrinsic interests.
Social:
Increases social capital, sense of belonging, and connectedness, independence and self-identity.

4. The Problem…
17% (12.7 million) of children and adolescents, aged 2-19 years, are overweight.
The average American boy or girl spends as few as 30 minutes outdoors each day.
The average American boy or girl spends more than 7 hours + each day in front of electronics.
Physical
Reduces risk of overweight and obesity, some cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychological disorders.
Outdoor activity is a strong predictor of adult physical activity.
Psychological:
Reduces symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression, anxiety, stress, and narcissism.
Increases problem solving, self-regulation and to value intrinsic interests.
Social:
Increases social capital, sense of belonging, and connectedness, independence and self-identity.

5. Get them active in the outdoors!
Solution?...
Get them active in the outdoors!
Physical
Reduces risk of overweight and obesity, some cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychological disorders.
Outdoor activity is a strong predictor of adult physical activity.
Psychological:
Reduces symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression, anxiety, stress, and narcissism.
Increases problem solving, self-regulation and to value intrinsic interests.
Social:
Increases social capital, sense of belonging, and connectedness, independence and self-identity.

6. So what are the benefits?
Physical
Psychological
Social
Physical
Reduces risk of overweight and obesity, some cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychological disorders.
Outdoor activity is a strong predictor of adult physical activity.
Psychological:
Reduces symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression, anxiety, stress, and narcissism.
Increases problem solving, self-regulation and to value intrinsic interests.
Social:
Increases social capital, sense of belonging, and connectedness, independence and self-identity.

7. Next step…
Parental attitudes and behaviors have the strongest influence on children’s outdoor activities and attitude development (McFarland et al. 2014).
My Research Question…
“How do parental attitudes toward nature-based activities relate to their children’s involvement in the outdoors?”

8. Research Objectives
1. Describe parental attitudes towards nature and outdoor unstructured play.
2. Describe parental attitudes towards their children’s participation in outdoor unstructured play.
3. Examine the association among parental attitudes towards nature and their attitudes toward their children’s outdoor unstructured play and their children’s participation in outdoor unstructured play.
4. Determine whether associations between parental attitudes towards nature and their children’s outdoor unstructured play participation vary by gender.

9. Concepts & key Studies…
Leisure Socialization
Environmental Socialization
Gender Roles

10. Leisure Socialization
“A process by which basic leisure knowledge, attitudes, values, skills, and motives are learned and internalized, with the net result of socially relevant and psychologically rewarding leisure behavior” (Iso-Ahola, 1980).
Begins during childhood and evolves throughout life.
Primary leisure socialization leaders: parents, peers & institutions (LIKE US)!

11. Environmental Socialization
“Environmental socialization refers to the process of how children learn about nature and environmental issues (Chawla, 2009).”
Process includes: acquiring knowledge, developing attitudes and expected outcomes, and consists of factors contributing to a committed concern for the natural environment.
Physical coordination, social interactions and creative acts.

12. Gender Role Theory
“Gender role theory seeks to explain the relationship between leisure and identity development” (Shaw, Kleiber & Caldwell, 1995).
Identity development is socially constructed and dependent upon environmental influences, such as parents.
Relationship between participation and development may be different for female and male children.

13. Summary Leisure Socialization Children’s Outdoor Environmental Play
Gender
Roles

14. Methods Population: Nationwide parents with one or more children
Children ages 6 to 14
Sample:
Obtained from Qualtrics (Online Survey)
World’s leading enterprise survey technology solution
Participants were randomly selected
N = 407 (205 women & 202 men)

15. Questions asked…
Parental attitudes toward nature (PAN) -15 items
“I wish I knew more about nature”
“Walking in the woods is a waste of time”
Parental attitudes toward their child’s outdoor recreation (PACOR) – 28 items
“All playgrounds should contain natural elements”
“I think my child should go on nature hikes”
McFarland, A.L., Hammond, D.E., Zajicekm J.M. & Waliczek, T.M. (2011). Growing minds: the development of an instrument to measure parental attitude toward nature and their child’s outdoor recreation. HortTechnology, 21(2),
Six-point Likert scale: Strongly disagree, somewhat disagree, slightly disagree, slightly agree, somewhat agree, strongly agree

16. Measures: Number of days children spend in outdoor play
“Over a typical or usual week on how many days is your child physically active outdoors for a total of at least 60 minutes per day?”
“For the past seven days, how many days was your child physically active outdoors for a total of at least 60 minutes per day?”
“Over a typical or usual week on how many days is your child physically active outdoors in unstructured play for a total of at least 60 minutes per day?”
“For the past seven days, how many days was your child physically active outdoors in unstructured play for a total of at least 60 minutes per day?”
The Active Where? Study designed by Kerr, Sallis, Rosenberg, Norman, Saelens, and Durant (2008).

17. Measures: Independent Mobility
“How often does your child go alone or with peers to and from school?”
“How often does your child go alone to play in a playground or park near your home?”
“How often does your child go alone to play in a backyard or private street near your home?”
“How frequently does your child go out alone on small errands to make purchases during the day?”
Never, Sometimes, Often
Prezza, M., Pilloni, S., Morabito, C., Sersante, C., Alparone, F.R., & Giuliani, M.V (2001). The influence of psychosocial and environmental factors on children’s independent mobility and relationship to peer frequentation. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 11,

18. Respondents

19. Ages of children represented in the study
Age of Children
6 Years Old 68
16.7
7 Years Old 54
13.3
8 Years Old 45
11.1
9 Years Old 51
12.5
10 Years Old 49 12
11 Years Old 46
11.3
12 Years Old 37
9.1
13 Years Old 36
8.8
14 Years Old 21
5.2
TOTAL
407
100%

20. Summary
1. Describe parental attitudes towards nature and outdoor unstructured play.
2. Describe parental attitudes towards their children’s participation in outdoor unstructured play.
3. Examine the association among parental attitudes towards nature and their attitudes toward their children’s outdoor unstructured play and their children’s participation in outdoor unstructured play.
4. Determine whether associations between parental attitudes towards nature and their children’s outdoor unstructured play participation vary by gender.

21. Descriptive Statistics
Majority of respondents answered either: “somewhat agree,” or “strongly agree.”

24. Results
Overall, favorable attitudes towards nature and children’s outdoor play.
More positive a parent was about nature and children spending time outdoors, suggests more time the child spent outdoors.
Parent-child dyads combinations were associated with measures of Independent mobility (AGE), not associated with outdoor play.
(Parent’s gender was not associated with children’s unstructured play or independent mobility (DISCUSS)…rather than show)

25. Limitations Primarily White/Caucasian respondents
Responses may have been influenced by climate & weather
General measures of attitudes
Self-report measures

26. Strengths
One of the first replications of Hammond and McFarland’s measures
Large, national random sample
Balanced representation of gender
1. Expand on Mcfarland and Hammond. First replication of

27. PROGRAMS Parent-child outdoor programs
Assess accessibility of local playgrounds and parks
Communication regarding parks, trail systems and safety of local playgrounds
Parent education seminars
What does your department do?

28. Questions…
Thank you!
Huron Valley partnering with Metro and State Parks
Webpage with local parks and activities
Recreation programs (parent-child soccer. Splatter family run, s’more run, YMCA pumpkin run 2017).
NC Rrea8 5k – and Baton
Scavenger hunts, pick-up family game nights (capture the flag)
Sports Starter Class – NAYS discussed how parents can even help with the development of sports – give them education/tips to do on own
Apps for local playgrounds.. Ohranger.com
Break-out Session…Come up with a innovative program to involve both parent and child (tight budget and limited equipment)