HOW PRESCHOOL CHILDREN SPEND THEIR FREE TIME

The research aimed to analyze how preschool children spend their free time. Three research objectives were outlined: identifying parents' perceptions of preschoolers' free time, analyzing the locations where preschool children spend their free time, and identifying leisure activities for preschoolers, including analyzing the gender perspective in choosing leisure options. The participant group comprised 130 subjects, parents of preschool children, who responded to a questionnaire. The most selected leisure options for children were as follows: "playgrounds equipped for children" (M=3.69; SD=.703), "parks" in general (M=3.55; SD=1.086), and "puppet theaters/places where children’s shows are held" (M=2.90 SD=.939). Preferred free-time activities with parents include: "playing various games with the child" (M=4.30; SD=.920), "going outside to play with other children" (M=4.18; SD=.952), and "taking walks or going out in nature" (M=4.11 SD=.990). Outdoor activities are favored by preschool children, regardless of gender, while indoor activities complement these.