Outside Play Lab

More than one-third of B.C. kindergarteners struggle in core areas of development, study finds University of British Columbia research shows young children doing worse in almost every category compared to pre-pandemic levels

More than one-third of B.C. kindergarteners struggle in core areas of development, study finds | @theglobeandmail.com [subscription required to view] - w/ research from UBC's Human Early Learning Partnership www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...

Green Schoolyard Lecture Series — Green Schoolyards America The Green Schoolyard Lecture Series discusses emerging topics and provides guidance for creating and stewarding high-quality green schoolyards and schoolyard forests. Sessions feature presentations by...

Embracing Risky Schoolyard Play for Exploration, Learning, and Growth - Dr. Mariana Brussoni's online session from Nov. 6th, the third in the Green Schoolyard Lecture Series www.greenschoolyards.org/green-school...

New! Cdn research on measuring how friendly neighbourhoods are for kids' play:
Development and application of a geospatial index of urban playability for young children | Emily Gemmell, A. Cavenaugh, M. Brussoni, M. Guhn, F. Andrade-Rivas, I. Imon, M. Brauer www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Thank you for your interest and taking the time to write! I've forwarded your comment to the authors

Our Lab's Rachel Ramsden is one of the 2026 Children The Heart of The Matter Conference panelists!

Conference will be held Jan 30 & 31, with sessions centred around the theme Rooted in Nature: Exploring Outdoor Play and Our Connection to the Land.

www.childcareoptions.ca/children-the...

Embracing Risky Play at School: Getting Kids Outdoors to Explore, Learn, and Grow - Outdoor Learning School & Store NEW RELEASE! Pre-orders Available Anticipated shipping date: End of January Children are naturally drawn to risky play—taking physical chances, seeking excitement, and satisfying curiosity—and are mor...

NEW RELEASE! Drs. Mariana Brussoni and Megan Zeni's book, Embracing Risky Play at School, is now available to pre-order! Scheduled release date: Jan. 2026
If you're in Canada, visit: outdoorlearning.com/product/embr...
For US and other international orders, visit: www.tcpress.com/embracing-ri...

Adventurous play the new normal as kids take to 'risky' new equipment 'Cliff riders' have sparked concern among some community members, but 20 have been installed across the country in an effort to help children learn through risk-taking.

[Ipswich, Australia:] New playground equipment encourages children to learn through 'risky play' www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

🎉 It’s here 🎉

The 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play is officially live!

Packed with new insights, sector-specific recommendations, and grounded in 9 key themes, this updated Statement is your go-to guide for supporting active outdoor play for all! 🌿

www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/aop10/

How can active outdoor play build a better planet? With its 2025 position statement on active outdoor play, Outdoor Play Canada envisions a world in which play builds healthier, more resilient communities.

How can active outdoor play build a better planet? -- Active For Life looks at the 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play activeforlife.com/outdoor-play... @outdoorplayca.bsky.social

Move over, helicopter parents. Try being a lifeguard parent instead A lifeguard parent sits on the sidelines, ready to dive in if necessary – but otherwise, they stay out of the way

Move over, helicopter parents. Try being a lifeguard parent instead - by Katherine Martinko, for @theglobeandmail.com www.theglobeandmail.com/life/advice/...

One Community's Experiment With a Phone-Free Childhood The Balance Project, a parent-run movement, works to encourage childhood independence and get kids off screens

One Community’s Experiment With a Phone-Free Childhood time.com/7314325/bala...

Thanks for sharing!

⁠Are Playgrounds Too Safe? The Benefits of Risky Play, interview w/our Lab's Rachel Ramsden - E.19, Screen Less Play More podcast: screenlessplaymore.com

Rachel reflects on her PhD research, interviewing young kids about playing outside and what we can learn from children about playground design.

UK children face barriers to outdoor play due to poor planning, says study ‘Fragmented’ policies leading councils to prioritise approval of housebuilding over parks, researchers find

Important research underlining the many ways in which local authority policy making marginalises space for play (house building, finance, austerity, post-covid, Brexit, focus on physical activity, etc.)

But some hope that “thoughtful planning” can work.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play will be released Sept. 25 - marking 10 years since the original statement!

2025 Statement is global in scope & highlights benefits of active outdoor play for all cultures, abilities, communities, and the environment. www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/aop10/

Careers at Let Grow At Let Grow, we are passionate about fostering independence, resilience, and creativity in children. Learn about joining our team.

*JOB POSTING: Let Grow is currently looking for a bilingual (English/French) Canadian School Account Manager to act as a point of contact for schools across Canada, playing a key role in shaping their presence in Canada and supporting schools in implementing Let Grow programs.
letgrow.org/careers/

Exciting book post! First look at a hard copy of the book I wrote with Zoe Sills. #eyfs #riskyplay #edusky

'Stranger Danger' Doesn't Cut It Anymore For Kids. Here's Why, According To Safety Experts. Kids need situational awareness — from crossing the street to navigating the internet. But many parents don't know how to teach it.

"Kids who learn to trust their instincts, pause before reacting and rely on trusted adults are better prepared to navigate both the playground and the online world with confidence and care." www.huffpost.com/entry/teachi...

Rachel Ramsden's upcoming presentations on outdoor play in Canadian early learning & child care centres - including our cross-Canada survey and study focused on children's perspectives on outdoor, risky play.

At the 2025 Breath of Fresh Air Summit | Ottawa, ON
🗓 Sept 25-27 outdoorplaysummit.ca

How to give children the freedom to play all across the city – not just in playgrounds Play should be promoted in cities to bolster children’s right to play anywhere.

‘How to give children the freedom to #play across the city - not just in playgrounds’

My article in @uk.theconversation.com

#Play creates dynamic neighbourhoods, intergenerational encounters, & meaningful participation in #urbanspaces – if only we let it happen

theconversation.com/how-to-give-...

New instant print kids camera from myFirst inspires outdoor play: “We wanted to create something that motivates kids to step outside and see the world through their own eyes. This camera makes every moment an adventure worth capturing.”

www.digitaljournal.com/business/new...

What Adults Forget About Friendship Just catching up can feel stale. Playing and wasting time together like kids do is how you make memories.

"To enjoy the rewards of play, you have to take risks, but adults are often too consumed by self-consciousness to run with someone’s silly idea, let alone suggest one." | 'What Adults Forget About Friendship' By Rhaina Cohen, for The Atlantic getpocket.com/explore/item...

Home - Breath Of Fresh Air | Outdoor Play Summit Breath of Fresh Air Outdoor Play Summit Days Hours Minutes Breath of Fresh Air Outdoor Play Summit At the Ottawa Forest and Nature School & Wesley Clover Parks Campground September 25-27th, 2025 Regis...

We're excited to be taking part in the upcoming 2025 Breath of Fresh Air Outdoor Play Summit, taking place at the Ottawa Forest and Nature School & Wesley Clover Parks Campground, Sept 25-27! outdoorplaysummit.ca

Kids need freedom. Dangerous roads make it hard to grant it. Bigger cars, distracted drivers and worried parents mean fewer kids are roaming freely.

The number of children injured or killed by cars while walking or riding a bike has fallen steadily since the 1970s, but CDC researcher note that this decline is not because streets are safer, but because fewer kids are out and about in the first place.

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...