A curated set of outdoor play resources for educators, drawn from Alberta Child Care Licensing (South Zone) and leading Canadian and international sources. Use it for program planning, staff professional learning, and inspection readiness.
Key takeaways for practice
Why outdoor play matters: it supports physical, social, and emotional development, offers rich learning beyond the classroom, encourages movement and exploration, and supports better sleep, health, and learning outcomes.
Outdoor play vs. active play: outdoor play can include art, reading, dramatic play, and exploration; active play focuses on movement and physical literacy. Both matter and both can happen outdoors.
Quality outdoor environments include materials children can manipulate and create with, natural elements and loose parts, room for imagination, risk-taking and choice, and space for individual and group play, aligned with the 7 C’s (character, context, connectivity, change, chance, clarity, challenge).
Supervision and engagement: move beyond supervision to active engagement, stay aware of positioning and the full space, support co-exploration, and keep children connected to activities.
Regulation focus: on-site equipment and materials must be safe and in good repair, developmentally appropriate, and provided in sufficient quantity and variety (ELCC Regulation, Section 20). For off-site play, inform parents of location, transportation and supervision, obtain written consent, and ensure portable records and emergency medication are accessible.
Key message: outdoor play is not just about going outside; it is about creating intentional, inclusive, and meaningful experiences for children.
Resource links
1. Regulatory & safety
- Parachute Canada – Built playgrounds
- Alberta Health – Playground safety YES test
- AECEA – Outdoor play recommendations (Alberta licensing)
- Statistics Canada – Outdoor play research
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Health Canada – Is your child safe? Play time
2. Programming
- CCCF – Exploring nature with children
- NAEYC – Outdoor play is essential
- Today’s Parent – Unexpected benefits of outdoor play
- CRCPD Alberta – Program 3023
3. Active play
4. Outdoor environment
5. Weather & sun safety
- Government of Canada – UV index & sun safety
- Government of Canada – Heat & wind chill products
- Canadian Cancer Society – Enjoy the sun safely
- Health Canada – Extreme heat: how to protect yourself
6. Loose parts play
7. Video
- Outdoor play video 1
- Outdoor play video 2
- Outdoor play video 3
- Outdoor play video 4
- Outdoor play video 5
8. Comprehensive collections
- Canadian Child Care Federation
- Outdoor Play Canada – Resources
- Outdoor Play in Child Care Settings – Full report (PDF)
- Childcare Resource & Research Unit – Bringing the outdoors into ECE
Compiled from resources shared by Alberta Child Care Licensing (South Zone), June–July 2026.