On January 20th, 2019 at 8pm, The Nature of Things will be releasing a documentary called The Power of Play. In addition to talking about the importance of play in children, the documentary touches on play in mammals, amphibians, reptiles and even insects! We know humans and pets love to play, but it is interesting to watch some unusual...
There are many evidence-based benefits of outdoor play in children and youth including increased energy expenditure, the development of motor skills, improved social relationshiops (e.g., ability to develop and sustain friendships) and emotional well-being (e.g., increased happiness). Very little is known, however, about the relationship between outdoor play and eating habits. A recently published study in the Journal...
Playgrounds with plastic slides, rubber ‘doodads’ and metal monkey bars seem to be the norm these days, but not for North Battleford, Saskatchewan. In September 2018, they opened a natural playground in Centennial Park made from boulders, tree trunks and a teepee made by local elders. This playground was built by Battleford’s Early Childhood Intervention...
To educate communities about the importance of spending time outdoors, Come Alive Outside , together with Landscape Ontario, has found a way to create green space where kids (and adults!) can get creative, outside. On specific days during the summer months, sod is laid down on segments of streets in Ontario communities, creating a temporary outdoor space...
How do you use parks? Why are they important to you? Parks for All is a collaborated effort led by Canadian Parks Council and Canadian Parks and Recreation Association and encourages individuals to recognize how we all benefit from access to healthy parks, green space and natural areas. Our mutual connection with nature in turn connects all...
PLAY LOOKS LIKE. PLAY SOUNDS LIKE. PLAY FEELS LIKE. Collective Impact has been lauded as a way to demonstrate how many organizations focused on common outcomes can make big differences. In 2017 the City of Calgary and 36 organizations came together to create a play charter. Calgary’s Play Charter is intended to be a...
Mariana Brussoni, an injury prevention researcher and developmental psychologist at the University of British Columbia is concerned we are keeping our kids too safe. Children require the mental and physical space to figure out appropriate risk levels for themselves, writes Dr. Brussoni in an article titled Why kids need risk, fear and excitement in play. It is...
From November 1-15, EVERYONE can download a copy of the Special Issue of Children, Youth and Environments at www.jstor.org/stable/10.7721/chilyoutenvi.28.issue-2 Please share this important journal with everyone....
Some of our fondest memories are from spending time playing outside yet children nowadays are being limited in their ability to roam and play out of doors. Earth Day Canada believes outdoor play is the foundation of environmental education and action and should be a natural part of the day to day lives of children....
Happy Take Me Outside Day! This day is a reminder to get outside. Unplug. Be active. Connect with nature. Play in the fresh air. Believe it or not, Canadian youth are spending nearly 8 hours a day in front of screens and as a result outdoor time is dwindling. This lack of outdoor time is impacting our health...
