The Effects of Storybooks on Preschoolers' Outdoor Play or "Never Put Your Feet in the Street..."

• Main Authors: Embry, Dennis D, Malfetti, James L
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 01-06-1980
• Subjects: Accident Prevention; Imitation; Inhibition; Observational Learning; Parent Responsibility; Pedestrian Traffic; Preschool Children; Preschool Education; Research Methodology; Safety Education; Story Reading; Traffic Safety

A reduction of children's play in the street was the goal of this study, the first in a series of studies designed to reveal possible solutions to pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents. The effects of of specially designed storybooks (read to children at preschool) on the frequency and duration of children's on the street behavior when playing near their homes were examined. Using a multiple baseline design across subjects, observations were made of four preschool-age children's frequency and duration of play in the street, the presence of their peers, and the quantity and quality of parental supervision. The setting for the observation was a high traffic area near a large apartment complex. Results indicated that reading the storybooks had a temporary effect on decreasing both the frequency and the duration of the children's play in the street. Reasons for the short-lived effects were hypothesized, and various ancillary findings were discussed, including suggestions for making the results more durable. References are included and a sample outdoor data observation sheet is appended. (Author/JA)