Promising Practices in Canada
Throughout Canada, programs have been developed and implemented that support children’s access to unstructured play. These programs address issues ranging from the design of play spaces, to developing local policies and programs supporting access to unstructured play. This section provides a series of examples that were self-identified as promising practices by the sponsoring organization.
Promising Practices
“A Promising Practice is defined as an intervention, program, service, or strategy that shows potential (or “promise”) for developing into a best practice. Promising practices are often in the earlier stages of implementation, and as such, do not show the high level of impact, adaptability, and quality of evidence as best practices. However, their potential is based on a strong theoretical underpinning to the intervention.”
Public Health Agency of Canada
In Canada, there are increasingly limited opportunities for children to engage in play that is self-directed, free, and natural. It is important to develop new and emergent interventions and programs that support unstructured child-led play so that the children can benefit from their physical, mental, and social development opportunities. The following programs have self-identified as promising practices.
Design
- 7 C’s to Designing Play Spaces, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
- Risk Reframing Tool, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
- Jooay App, McGill University: PLAY Project, Montréal, Québec
Policy - Community
- The Calgary Play Charter, City of Calgary, Calgary Alberta
- Healthy, Outdoor Playspaces for Children, Peterborough Public Health, Peterborough, Ontario
- PlayVenture, City of London, London, Ontario
Policy - School
- The Recess Project, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario
- New Recess Rules Policy, Horace Allen School, Coleman, Alberta
Program - Community
- Nurturing Development of Active Play, Regroupement des centres de la petite enfance de la Montérégie, Saint-Hubert, Québec
- Outdoor Play in the Early Years, Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Open Streets Toronto, City of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
- Kentville Plays Initiatives, City of Kentville, Kentville, Nova Scotia
- Wild Child Outdoor Play Group, Childreach London, London, Ontario
- Dangerous Camps for Kids, Humanist Risk Management Consultants, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
- Bright Start Program, Inkster Parent Child Coalition, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- CNC ChildMinding Support Centre, Rexdale Women’s Centre, Toronto, Ontario
- South Region Parents as Teachers, Parents as Teachers Affiliate, South Lethbridge, Alberta
- StreetPLAY and POP-UP Adventure Playgrounds, Earth Day Canada, City of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
- Le lion et la souris (The Lion and The Mouse), Adventure Play Programs, Montréal, Québec
Program - School
- Forest and Nature School, Child and Nature Alliance/Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Ottawa, Ontario
- Loose Parts Adventure Playground, Meadowlands Public School, Ottawa, Ontario
- Cariboo Chilcotin Outdoor Classrooms, School District No. 27, William’s Lake, British Columbia
- Discovery School, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, Red Deer, Alberta
- Random Acts of Play, Brant County Health Unit, Brantford, Ontario
- Outdoor Play and Learning, Earth Day Canada, City of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Last modified: January 25, 2019
Unstructured Play
Unstructured play is a child's right and is integral to healthy development.