The effect of outdoor play frequency on emotional intelligence of 60-72-month-old children

The aim of this study is to investigate whether the emotional intelligence of 60-72 months preschool children differs significantly according to their frequency of playing outdoors. A descriptive survey model, which is a quantitative research method, was used in the study. The sample of the study was selected using an appropriate sampling method in accordance with the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic, consisting of 208 children aged 60-72 months and their parents. The data of the study were collected through the Sullivan Emotional Intelligence Scale for Children, adapted to Turkish by Ulutaş (2005), and the Personal Information Form prepared by the researchers. t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square tests were used in the analysis of the data. The findings of the study showed that the frequency of children's outdoor play differs significantly according to the type of housing, access to outdoor play areas, and the mother's level of education, while there was no significant difference according to the settlement type, gender, father's education level, mother's employment status, and the number of siblings. Moreover, it was determined that children's emotional intelligence and sub-skills (recognition, understanding, and management of emotions) did not differ significantly according to gender, parental education level, monthly income, and the number of siblings. However, it was observed that the emotional intelligence sub-skills, such as recognition, understanding, and management of emotions, differ significantly according to the frequency of playing outdoors.