Development of physical activity games that can be utilized in small-scale childcare facilities.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K02693
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09030:Childhood and nursery/pre-school education-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University of Education
• Principal Investigator: Takase Junya 北海道教育大学, 教育学部, 准教授 (60780418)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 極小規模保育所 / 運動遊び / 少人数

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to develop play activities that enable children in extremely small-scale childcare centers to acquire a wide range of movements and to systematize physical activities in small-scale childcare institutions. A survey of free play in extremely small-scale childcare centers revealed limited interaction among children due to the small group size, which hindered the development and diversification of physical activities. However, the results also suggested that various movements can still occur even with a small number of children depending on the environment. Based on these findings, we focused on creating an environment that facilitates cooperation among friends and allows for the experience of new movements, and we worked on the development of physical play activities. The developed activities showed positive outcomes, such as the emergence of movements like dodging and evading.

Free Research Field

体育科教育学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我が国では人口減少と少子化が進み，2053年には総人口が1億人を下回る予測もある。過疎地域では極小規模保育所が定員割れを起こす状況が見られるが，全幼児が10名程度でも認可外保育所として存続している地域も少なくない。しかし，これらの機関に関する研究は，社会学的アプローチが主流となっており，少人数でどのような保育・教育を展開していくとよいかという知見が不足している実態がある。このことから，本研究における極小規模保育所における運動遊びの開発や幼児期から児童期にかけての運動遊び・運動指導の体系化は，少子化が進む我が国にとって有益な情報となることが期待される。