RESEARCH STUDIES
Active Studies
PROmoting Early Childhood Outside (PRO-ECO) 1.0
In partnership with the YMCA of Greater Vancouver, this study is to develop and evaluate the PRO-ECO study to promote children’s outdoor play in early learning and child care.
Bring Education Outdoors (BE OUT)
This study is developing a digital tool to support elementary school teachers who wish to facilitate outdoor play and learning
Grandparents and Grandchildren’s Outdoor Play
This study looked at the influence of outdoor play on children between 3 and 5 years old and their grandparents.
Measuring Early Childhood Outside
This is a survey study to understand the current context for outdoor play in early learning and child care centres in Canada.
PROmoting Early Childhood Outside (PRO-ECO) 2.0
In this study, we are working with Indigenous organizations, elders, and partners that support and deliver early learning child care (ELCC) programs across BC to develop, implement and evaluate the PRO-ECO program to support children’s outdoor play in ELCC programs. This study expands the PRO-ECO 1.0, a pilot study.
Virtual Risk Management (VirMA)
Using a VR technology, this study explores how childhood risk experiences influence how children deal with risk in everyday situations.
Past Studies
Playability – Independent Outdoor Play for 10-13 year olds
We studied what motivates 10-13 year old children and their parents in playing outside independently.
Early Childhood Outside (ECO) Educational App – Randomized Controlled Trial
We studied the effect of the ECO education app on early learning and child care educators’ tolerance for children’s risky play and providing risky play opportunities for children at their centre.
Go Play Outside! (GPO) Educational App
This study developed an educational app for parents to help them learn the importance of outdoor play for children.
Early Childhood Outside (ECO) Educational App
This study is to develop an online educational app to reframe perceptions of children’s risky play of early learning and child care (ELCC) educators and administrators.
Nature Play Meets Risky Play
This study investigated how introducing risky play through the use of natural elements (e.g., trees) influences children’s development and wellbeing.
Play Worth Remembering
This online survey study was conducted to understand the types of landscapes that people considered memorable for play when they were kids.
Child & Youth Burden of Injury
This study examined 378 children who attended the BC Children’s Hospital for an injury to understand how injuries affected children and their families.
Fathers’ Injury Prevention
This study examined fathers’ attitudes and practices towards preventing injury and keeping children safe in Canadian urban and rural settings.
This study will develop an online tool for children and their parents/guardians to use together to learn more about why outdoor play is important.