Developing Children’s Understanding of the World by Field Trips in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Kindergartens: Case Study.

Abstract

Field trips allow children to obtain knowledge and learn in an environment that stimulates their imagination and allows them to interact in unique ways; therefore, field trips may be useful to children as part of their early development. This study explored the role of kindergarten field trips in developing children’s understanding of the world around them. A qualitative method, specifically semi-structured interviews, was used to collect data. The perspectives of early childhood education (ECE) professionals were highlighted, as the sample consisted of two leaders, two teachers who worked in the two kindergartens under study, and a counsellor who is a professor at a Saudi Arabian university. The case study approach allowed for a deep understanding of the topic and enhanced the value of the collected data in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) context. The findings showed that field trips contributed significantly to children’s overall development and even motivated them to learn enthusiastically, which broadened their perspectives of the world around them. In addition, the results indicate that children in early childhood deserve opportunities to explore and find meaning in learning in real- world contexts. However, classroom learning cannot be dispensed with, so combining field trips and the curriculum together achieves appropriate integration of children’s needs and interests, considering this age group. Finally, the study demonstrated the efficacy of activities before, during and after the field trips in supporting the concepts children learned and transferring the impact of learning to other situations. This research expanded and shaped the understanding of field trips as an essential teaching method in kindergartens.