ISSN 1413-389X Trends in Psychology / Temas em Psicologia – 2016, Vol. 24, nº 2, 669-680 DOI: 10.9788/TP2016.2-14En Nature and Children’s Play: Investigation of Child-Nature Interaction in Urban Green Parks Yasmin Sauer Machado Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil Patrícia Maria Schubert Peres Dayse da Silva Albuquerque Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil Ariane Kuhnen 1 Departamento de Psicologia e Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil Abstract Studies have shown that contact with nature brings cognitive, social, physical and psychological benefits to children, influencing their development. In natural environments, children play jumping, running, digging, building, hiding, climbing trees, and develop the capacity of imagination in make-believe play. In the present study, which aimed to understand the child-nature interaction in play, 30 children aged 2 to 10 years were observed in two urban green parks of Florianópolis, southern Brazil (SC). Thus, one observation protocol was developed using the technique of person-centered behavioral mapping. In both contexts, sand was the natural element most used in constructive play. Children were observed gathering sand with plastic shovels or pots to build something. Other elements such as vegetation, water and stone were observed less frequently in play behaviors. In one of the parks, vegetation was used in a turbulent play with a child climbing a tree. Water was used in turbulent play of spreading water and throwing it at one another, and stones were used in constructive play. The preservation of these elements in natural areas or their inclusion in planned areas implies in the expansion of recreational opportunities for children. Keywords: Environmental psychology, child development, play, nature. Brincadeiras Infantis e Natureza: Investigação da Interação Criança-Natureza em Parques Verdes Urbanos Resumo Estudos vêm mostrando que o contato com a natureza traz benefícios cognitivos, sociais, físicos e psicológicos para as crianças, influenciando seu desenvolvimento. Nos ambientes naturais as crianças realizam diversos tipos de brincadeiras e desenvolvem a capacidade de imaginação. No presente estudo, com o objetivo de conhecer a interação criança-natureza nas brincadeiras, foram observadas 30 crianças de dois a dez anos em dois parques verdes urbanos de Florianópolis (SC). Para isso, foi elaborado 1 Mailing adress: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas, Departamento de Psicologia, Laboratório de Psicologia Ambiental, sala 11B, Campus Universitário, Trindade, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil 88040-970. Phone: (48) 3721-8574. E-mail: lapamcfh@gmail.com, yasminsm@gmail.com, pmschu@hotmail.com, albuquerquepsi@hotmail.com and ariane@cfh.ufsc.br