Outside Play Lab

Everyday Enchantments: In Conversation with Daily tous les jours Daily tous les jours co-founders Mouna Andraos and Melissa Mongiat reflect on 15 years of delightfully unconventional design practice.

"So the apparently frivolous work around play and joy is really critical right now, so that we can start coming together again." Interview with Mouna Andraos and Melissa Mongiat, founders of the Montreal-based design studio Daily tous les jours www.azuremagazine.com/article/ever...

The @outsideplayubc.bsky.social has a resource page that covers topics such as outdoor play, playground designs, children's independence, risky play, and more!

You can find infographics, books, podcasts, radio interviews and other resources related to outdoor play.

www.outsideplay.org/resources

Thanks very much for the mention, @eccrc-msvu.bsky.social !

Our kids’ recess at school is essential to well-being and learning — and shouldn’t be scaled back Time to play, move, connect with peers and breathe is a vital part of learning and essential to academic motivation.

Our kids’ recess at school is essential to well-being and learning — and shouldn’t be scaled back
theconversation.com/our-kids-rec...
#Play #ECinCanada @theconversation.com

Risky play is defined as thrilling and exciting activities. It's a type of play where #children test their limits, explore boundaries, and develop valuable skills like risk assessment, problem-solving, and resilience.
#publicspace
#outdoorplay
#riskyplay

What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones Children who were raised on screens need more freedom out in the real world.

You can also access the article via www.yahoo.com/news/article...

What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones Children who were raised on screens need more freedom out in the real world.

What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv... | By Lenore Skenazy, Zach Rausch & Jonathan Haidt
👉 Plus, what adults can do - article mentions our online tool helping parents support outdoor play ✨ www.outsideplay.org/tool-microsi...

Sounds like your children's early opportunities to do 'dangerous things' continued to serve them well as they got older...

This Innovative Playground Balances Risk and Reward Sara Jackman Playground announces itself with a colourful medley of interactive elements along the Jackman Institute of Child Study.

"Part of the school’s philosophy is about risk-taking as a fundamental part of creating confidence." Principal Richard Messina | In @novakovicto.bsky.social 's article on the outdoor play space at Toronto's Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study www.designlinesmagazine.com/sara-jackman...

Mariana Brussoni: “El juego arriesgado fortalece la autoestima y la tolerancia a la frustración en los chicos” Frente al mandato de la supervisión adulta constante, la especialista de la Universidad de Columbia Británica (Canadá) defiende los juegos que implican cierto riesgo físico e incertidumbre. Asegura qu...

Mariana Brussoni, talking to @infobae.bsky.social (Argentina) about importance of children's risky play: “El juego arriesgado fortalece la autoestima y la tolerancia a la frustración en los chicos” www.infobae.com/educacion/20... @mbrussoni.bsky.social

YouTube video by Take Me Outside Megan Zeni - Tedstyle Talks - National Outdoor Learning Conference 2025

Outdoor play and learning in elementary schools (K-7) | Tedstyle Talk by Megan Zeni @roomtoplay.bsky.social - as part of Take Me Outside National Outdoor Learning Conference 2025 www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tae...

"Let Your Kid Climb That Tree" - Henry Abbott looks at the importance of children's risky play, including connection to injury prevention in professional athletes, via @theatlantic.com

[ Also available here: www.aol.com/let-kid-clim... ]

New national Risky Play Position Statement released in Australia!

"This Position Statement challenges the current Australian narrative around risky play and highlights a benefit-risk approach to risky play for all young children."

www.playaustralia.org.au/national-ris...

Children are far better off playing in the sun than sitting in a stuffy classroom Is it really any wonder so many young people are suffering from anxiety and depression when schools are wrapping them up in cotton wool?

Children are far better off playing in the sun than sitting in a stuffy classroom www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07... | Also available via MSN www.msn.com/en-ca/lifest...

Just out 📣 in @JEnvPsych- 'Differential Effects Of An Urban Outdoor Environment On 4-5 Year Old Children’s Attention In School' - with @GemmaGoldenberg, Molly Atkinson,
@jan_dubiel
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Let Kids Be Loud In Defense of Outdoor Play

"But play is essential, and play is loud. Kids yelp, squeal, cheer, chant, and crash into things. That’s how they express joy, test boundaries, and connect with one another." Katherine Johnson Martinko: Let Kids Be Loud. In Defense of Outdoor Play | After Babel www.afterbabel.com/p/let-kids-b...

What Outdoor Play Taught Me About Entrepreneurship · Babson Thought & Action Brian Fitzgerald, co-founder of Tinkergarten, reflects on decreasing children’s screen time and the importance of going outside.

"When kids play in nature, something changes. They become more present. They take risks, are eager to solve problems, and find joy in small discoveries." entrepreneurship.babson.edu/outdoor-play...

How hot is too hot for kids to play outside? With heat indices over 100 degrees across much of the country, it's hot out there. But is it too hot for kids to be outside?

"[Keeping] kids safe in the heat comes down to adults using their common sense." | How hot is too hot for kids to play outside? by Adam Berne via @npr.org www.npr.org/2025/06/24/n...

Conference in Montreal seeks to address lack of outdoor play spaces for neurodivergent kids | Watch News Videos Online Watch Conference in Montreal seeks to address lack of outdoor play spaces for neurodivergent kids Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

Conference in Montreal seeks to address lack of outdoor play spaces for neurodivergent kids globalnews.ca/video/111957...

Nieman: Pediatrician prescribes healthy dose of outdoor play Dr. Nieman column on kids health: Children's moods, attention benefit from playing outdoors

Pediatrician prescribes healthy dose of outdoor play | Dr. Peter Nieman, via Calgary Herald calgaryherald.com/health/famil...

Helping children thrive through risky play - by Sarah Reader via Calgary's Child Magazine
mydigitalpublication.com/publication/...

Calling for play in an increasingly digital world Celebrating the International Day of Play

Play is not a luxury–it is a fundamental right of every child.

Play is not optional–it is the essence of human development skills.

Play is not just a pastime—it is the learning language and the emotional and biological imperative of children.

www.unicef.org/digitaleduca...

@unicef.org #Play

UN International Day of Play: celebrating the power of play | Watch News Videos Online Watch UN International Day of Play: celebrating the power of play Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

UN International Day of Play: celebrating the power of play globalnews.ca/video/112356...

International Day of Play Get fun and free play activities for the family and help us make sure that every child everywhere can fulfil their right to play

✨ Happy International Day of Play! - from all of us at the Outside Play Lab 🌿

This year's theme -- Choose play - every day! -- is a reminder of just how essential play is to children's development and their well-being.

www.unicef.org/parenting/da...

For more info on our Measuring Early Childhood Outside (MECO) study - which looks at outdoor play in early learning and child care programs across Canada - as well as to access MECO-related publications, visit:
www.outsideplay.org/research/mea...

What is outdoor play like in early learning and child care programs across Canada?🌿

Rachel Ramsden and Dr. Mariana Brussoni cover key findings and recommendations from our Measuring Early Childhood Outside study in the May edition of the Atkinson Centre Newsletter mailchi.mp/utoronto/rec...

How do we create a playful city? Evergreen talks to a Dublin, Ireland-based not-for-profit that helps communities build vibrant play spaces.

How do we create a playful city? Interview with Neasa Ni Bhriain @aplayfulcity.bsky.social via Evergreen Canada www.evergreen.ca/stories/how-...

Where the Wild Children’s Museums Are St. Louis’ City Museum helped pioneer the idea of dangerous-looking interactive experiences for kids and their families. Now other institutions have followed suit.

"At a time when the geography of childhood is contracting, when the secret spaces of childhood are disappearing, when kids spend less time outdoors or unsupervised, children’s museums play a number of critical roles" www.bloomberg.com/news/feature... via @bloomberg.com

"It is so hard to ask kids to learn, read, and write, when so many adults are no longer doing the work it takes to ensure they are really learning, reading, and writing." www.404media.co/teachers-are...

Montreal school’s inclusive playground a model for outdoor play — and a push joy At Giant Steps Montreal, a unique playground is redefining what outdoor play can look like — not just for autistic children, but for all kids.

Montreal school’s inclusive playground a model for outdoor play — and a push joy www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/art...