In 2017, Peterborough Public Health undertook an extensive review of evidence related to outdoor playspaces for children in response to an observed increase in playground injury rates in Peterborough compared to the rest of the province. The review focuses on evidence related to the benefits of outdoor play, safety and risk, injury prevention, physical activity,...
Spotlight: Creativity, A 2020 HundrED research report, by the LEGO Foundation and hundrED, highlights leading education innovations from around the world, including the Walking Curriculum, a Canadian initiative led by Gillian Judson that aims develop students’ Sense of Place and enrich their curricular learning through 60 different walks. Check out the full Spotlight Creativity Report here....
The Playgroundology blog advocates for a wider variety of play opportunities for kids in public spaces. Since 2010, the blog has published 450 posts about play in various locations around the world that have been read by parents, play enthusiasts, practitioners, and policy makers in over 200 countries. The award-winning blog is referenced by readers...
Play Training is a workshop led by PLAYLearnThink and is geared towards anyone whose work impacts children. Half-day workshops provide an overview of the importance of play for children's development and guide participants in engaging in loose parts play. Full-day workshops build on the half-day program and offer additional training in play-based concepts such as...
Adventure PlayDays is a program led by PLAYLearnThink that aims to nurture children's global well-being and development through opportunities for self-directed play and learning. Outdoor spaces at schools and communities are filled with loose parts and tools to spark children's imagination, encourage whole family play, and strengthen community ties. PLAYLearnThink also offers Parent Engagement Adventure...
The More Active People for a Healthier World global action plan, by the World Health Organization, provides updated guidance and a framework of effective and feasible policy actions to increase physical activity across cultural, environmental, and individual factors. The report highlights the observation that investing in policies to promote play can contribute directly to achieving...
Naturalized Outdoor Play Areas at Schools to Support Physical Activity and Health - A Rapid Review, by Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, was conducted to raise awareness, inform, and shape school ground greening plans, policies and related initiatives. Topics in this review include diversity and quality of play, age and gender variations, interest, ability and...
The University of Guelph Child Care and Learning Centre Outdoor Playscape is a versatile outdoor play and learning environment constructed of natural materials, with an aim to maximize elements of play. The playscape also acts as a research site and workshop space for faculty and students in the Child Studies Program at the University of...
Several colleges across Canada have introduced nature-based pedagogy into their early learning and child care programs. These include: Algonquin College - Third year degree students in the Nature-Based Early Learning course at Algonquin College examine why governments should include the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play within early learning curriculum frameworks. Bow Valley College - They have recently...
YMCA's National Playing to Learn curriculum was expanded upon by YMCA of Southwestern Ontario to shift the focus of the program towards self-directed and unstructured risky play for children, to support children's curiosities and interests while also building their resilience and confidence. Their curriculum is rooted in research on the association between outdoor play and...
