The Hessian Nursery School Study: A comparative study of physical education in mainstream, forest and movement-based nurseries among 5- to 6-year-olds

This study of kindergartens in Hesse examines the institutional educational conditions of different types of kindergarten - standard kindergartens, activity-based kindergartens and forest kindergartens - as well as their impact on physical activity in education. Using the diagnostic assessment tool known as the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency - Second Edition (BOT-2), the study examines the areas of fine motor control, hand coordination, body coordination, and strength and dexterity. The results show that forest kindergartens support their children's physical development at least as effectively as standard or movement-focused kindergartens. Children from forest kindergartens perform particularly well in the areas of body coordination and strength & dexterity, which demonstrates that the forest, as an educational environment, offers children a wide range of physical experiences.