This article was first published by the Global Alliance – Cities4Children (www.cities4children.org/blog) and authored by Sarah Sabry and Anupama Nallari, Urban Hub @ Save the Children Between 2020 and 2026, Paris transformed 300 school streets, fully redesigning around 100 of them. This article shares key lessons from the ground and practical steps to help other cities plan and...
Thank you to Owen Wiseman, director of Nature Quant, for providing this post! Beyond Access: Why Outdoor Play Needs Healthier Nature, Not Just More Space As a healthcare provider, I spend a lot of time talking with families about the foundations of health: sleep, movement, nutrition, stress, social connections, and daily routines. But one theme continuously shows...
Thank you to Laurel Donison (Lecturer) and Marlene Frederick (Kindergarten Teacher and Forest School Course Instructor) with King’s University College at Western University for providing this post. Trail Blazers: King’s University College is implementing a Forest School Pedagogy and Practice course in the Childhood and Youth Studies Department. A new trail is being blazed at King’s University...
Thank you to Gerben Helleman, PhD candidate at Delft University of Technology, for providing this post. Playing outdoors: how children perceive and value the public space as a place to play Outdoor play can positively affect children’s personal development and health. But how do children perceive and value public space as a place to play, and which...
Thank you to the Saskatchewan collective for providing this post! The Outdoor Play Collective of Saskatchewan is a province-wide collaboration dedicated to advancing outdoor play as an essential part of everyday life. With a shared vision of a Saskatchewan where people of all ages engage in outdoor play year-round, the collective works to ensure that opportunities to...
Thank you to Morgan Potter and Valerie Carson, from the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, at the University of Alberta, for providing this post! Before children are able to contribute to the game winning goal on their hockey team or deliver a flawless pass to their friend in the soccer game at recess, they need...
Join us on June 6th, 2026 to celebrate the second anniversary of the opening of Forest Explorers Outdoor Early Learning Centre, home of the CCOP! This year, the event will be part of Doors Open Ottawa, with visitors welcome from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Our event is for all families, educators, and community members!...
The importance of outdoor play and learning in the lives of children and communities has never been greater. Growing evidence reveals the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social benefits of outdoor activity for children. Despite these benefits, trends toward indoor lifestyles, urbanization, digital entertainment and schooling, and safety concerns have led to a notable decline in outdoor time....
Thank you to CPCHE for providing this post. Today is Healthy Environments for Learning Day (HELD)! We’re proud to join over 50 organizations in Canada calling for healthy, sustainable and climate-resilient outdoor learning and play settings for all children. Evidence shows that natural outdoor settings with tree canopies and natural surfacing are not only beneficial to...
