Loose Parts

Thank you to Dr. Ole Sando, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Health at Queen Maud University in Trondheim, Norway, for providing this post. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) institutions offer young children an environment with play opportunities that contribute to their development. The complexity of early childhood learning led to the...

On May 16th, 2023, Outdoor Play Canada will be hosting a Risky Outdoor Play webinar, featuring speakers from Canada, the US, and Norway! This 90min webinar will begin with a summary of research from each of our speakers, followed by what's sure to be a lively discussion! Join us! Register here.   ...

Thank you to Emily Gemmell, PhD student from University of British Columbia for providing this post! What does a playable neighbourhood look like? Researchers at the University of British Columbia's School of Population and Public Health are inviting five to twelve-year-old kids and their parents to participate in an online survey assessing visual perceptions of neighbourhood playability...

Thank you to Anna Kaufmann, Intern at Technical University of Munich, Germany, Jan Ellinger, PhD Candidate at Technical University of Munich, Germany, and Dr. Christoph Mall, Researcher at Technical University of Munich, Germany, for providing this post.  “Man is by nature a social animal” - Aristotle. It was already known in 300 B.C. that we humans...

Outdoor Play Canada is proud to support the Outdoor Learning Store's (free!) Spring Outdoor Learning Virtual Workshops!   There is something for every educator at these 60min virtual workshops featuring a diversity of presenters and topics. In addition to ideas & inspiration, you’ll walk away with a certificate of attendance, discounts on outdoor learning resources & entry...

On Thursday March 30th at 20:00 GMT, the International Journal of Behavior Nutrition and Physical Activity Early Childhood Education Special Interest Group (ISBNPA ECE SIG) is hosting a webinar entitled: 'Outdoor and Nature Play: A Global Look at Research Policy & Practice'. This 75-minute webinar will include a discussion from international experts currently working in the...

Thank you to Emily Gemmell, PhD Candidate at the University of British Columbia, for providing this guest post. “Ananda,” Mrs. Murry said thoughtfully. “That rings some kind of bell.” “It’s Sanskrit,” Charles Wallace said. Meg asked, “Does it mean anything?” “That joy in existence without which the universe will fall apart and collapse.” “That’s a mighty big name for one...

Nature Play and Get Outside & Play have teamed up to host the Outdoor Play in the Early Years 2023 Conference! Be inspired to be outside with children in a way that honours their creativity, curiosity, and learning with 28 different sessions from passionate educators. Most sessions will be outdoors where you can directly experience play...

Thank you to Gerben Helleman, author of the blog Urban Springtime and Researcher Public Space and Child-friendly Cities at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, for providing this post.  Fortunately, more and more municipalities are working on play-friendly public spaces. However, many policy visions and investments are still based on assumptions made by municipal officials or...