The SPROUT (Sending PReschoolers OUTside) Study is a three-year research initiative launched by the Healthy Active Living and Obesity (HALO) Research Group in partnership with Dr. Maeghan James, an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa. This study is a comparative study that explores the health, wellbeing, and experiences of children, educators, and families participating in Andrew Fleck Children’s Services’ full-day licensed outdoor ECE program, Forest Explorers, in comparison to conventional childcare programs around the city of Ottawa.
With 78 children and their families and 27 educators enrolled (and counting!), the SPROUT study examines:
- Parents’ beliefs and attitudes toward outdoor play and learning in nature-based vs. traditional childcare settings.
- Early childhood educators’ job satisfaction, health, and wellbeing, as well as their perspectives on teaching in outdoor environments for children of all abilities.
- Children’s health and development, evaluating the impact of full-day outdoor early childhood education on young children aged 10-59 months.
Through this work, the SPROUT study aims to generate evidence on the benefits and challenges of nature-based early learning, informing policies and practices that support outdoor play for all children.