PROmoting Early Childhood Outside (PRO-ECO) 1.0
An outdoor play study for children aged 3 to 5 years in early childhood education centres
Interested to learn more about research?
Check out ‘Jackie’s Adventure’ to learn more about the importance of research and what your contribution to research means.
Early learning and childcare (ELCCs) centres are important settings for children’s outdoor play. ELCC centres can face challenges in providing these opportunities for children.
The PROmoting Early Childhood Outside (PRO-ECO) 1.0 is a pilot study that develops, implements and evaluates a comprehensive study to increase time spent by children in quality outdoor play in ELCC centres. The PRO-ECO study integrates four main pieces:
- Modifying outdoor play spaces;
- Early childhood educator training and mentorship;
- Parent and caregiver engagement; and,
- Updating policies and procedures
We work in close partnership with the YMCA of Greater Vancouver with support from scientific advisors and public health and licensing professionals. We are now looking into how the PRO-ECO study influences the time children spent outside and types of outdoor play – using a study method called randomized controlled trial. Eight YMCA centres are randomly assigned to receive the PRO-ECO study first, or second and we collect data at three different times to see the influence on the children.
Learn More and Consent for the Study
Your child may be eligible to participate:
1. Is your child aged 3-5 years?
2. Is your child enrolled in one or more of the following childcare centres?
- Beach YMCA
- Djavad Mowafaghian YMCA
- Marpole YMCA
- Metrotown YMCA
- Nanook YMCA
- Seasong YMCA
- Vista Point YMCA
- Woodward YMCA
If you answered yes to these questions and would like to participate, please provide consent via our Parent Consent Form
Interested to learn more about research?
Check out ‘Jackie’s Adventure’ to learn more about the importance of research and what your contribution to research means.
Funding information
Generously supported by the Lawson Foundation
https://lawson.ca/outdoor-play-strategy-and-funding/
2021-2023
Publications & Resources
1. Ramsden, R., Han, S.C., Mount, D., Loebach, J., Cox, A., Herrington, S., Bundy, A., Fyfe-Johnson, A., Sandseter, E.B.H., Stone, M., Tremblay, M.S., & Brussoni, M. (2022). An Intervention to Increase Outdoor Play in Early Childhood Education Centers (PROmoting Early Childhood Outside): Protocol for a Pilot Wait-list Control Cluster Randomized Trial. JMIR Research Protocol, 11(7), e:38365. https://www.researchprotocols.org/2022/7/e38365
2. Herrington, S., Lexa-French, I., Brussoni, M. (2022). Rewilding Play: Design Build Interventions. Education Sciences, 12(10), 653. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/10/653