Go Play Outside!

Children experience the world through play. Let them experience the world.

Our Lab Our Research

About Us

The Outside Play Lab is a team of researchers dedicated to studying children’s outdoor risky play and injury prevention. Our lab is led by Dr. Mariana Brussoni, and is based at the University of British Columbia and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Our research looks at the effect of outdoor play on children, the influence of adults (parents, caregivers, educators, and others) on children’s play opportunities, and the design of outdoor environments (play spaces, neighbourhoods) to support outdoor play, as well as the enablers and policies to promote outdoor play.

Toolkit

Discover our tools aimed at helping parents, caregivers and educators
gain the confidence and skills to support children's outdoor play.

Parent Tool

Designed for parents and caregivers, this tool helps individuals develop skills and confidence that enables outdoor play for children in their lives.

Educator Tool

Designed for Early Childhood Educators, this tool gives support on risky play, risk management, and guides development of a plan for changing practice.

Teacher Tool

Designed for elementary school teachers, this tool offer valuable insights and practical resources that can help move learning outdoors.

Featured Research

OPAL 1.0

Outdoor Play and Learning

Partnering with the Richmond School District, this study explores how outdoor play and learning is happening in elementary schools and how we can make it a regular and meaningful part of school life.

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NASSI

National Active School Streets Initiative

National Active School Streets Initiative (NASSI) is a Canada-wide program to increase active school travel for children and their families. In this study we are evaluating NASSI implementation in two Vancouver elementary schools.

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PRO-ECO 2.0

PROmoting Early Childhood Outside

We are working with Indigenous organization, 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.

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News & Events

Helping parents, caregivers and educators gain the confidence and
skills to support children's outdoor play.

Events

April 13, 2026

Embracing Risky Play Course - Spring 2026

Outdoor Learning School and Store

News

March 19, 2026

Anguli Bharmota wins the "Award for Excellence in Poster Design"

UBC Faculty of Medicine

News

March 5, 2026

Dr. Mariana Brussoni nominated for a 2026 YWCA BC Women of Distinction Award

YWCA BC

Events

February 16, 2026

Supporting Outdoor Risky Play - free Vancouver Island workshops

The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

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Resources

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Outside Play Lab - Translation by K. Lambert

Toutes les Conditions Meteo | Prepare for All Weather [FR]

Toutes les Conditions Meteo | Prepare for All Weather [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Outside Play Lab - Translation by K. Lambert

Toutes les Conditions Meteo | Prepare for All Weather [FR]

Toutes les Conditions Meteo | Prepare for All Weather [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Outside Play Lab - Translation by K. Lambert

Pret-a-Emporter | Grab and Go [FR]

Pret-a-Emporter | Grab and Go [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Outside Play Lab - Translation by K. Lambert

Pret-a-Emporter | Grab and Go [FR]

Pret-a-Emporter | Grab and Go [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Outside Play Lab - Translation by K. Lambert

Liberte | Outdoor Play - Freedom [FR]

Liberte | Outdoor Play - Freedom [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Outside Play Lab - Translation by K. Lambert

Liberte | Outdoor Play - Freedom [FR]

Liberte | Outdoor Play - Freedom [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Tenue Adequate Pour la Meteo | Appropriate Weather Gear [FR]

Tenue Adequate Pour la Meteo | Appropriate Weather Gear [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Tenue Adequate Pour la Meteo | Appropriate Weather Gear [FR]

Tenue Adequate Pour la Meteo | Appropriate Weather Gear [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Outside Play Lab - Translation by K. Lambert

Espace du Jeu | Play Space [FR]

Espace du Jeu | Play Space [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Outside Play Lab - Translation by K. Lambert

Espace du Jeu | Play Space [FR]

Espace du Jeu | Play Space [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Outside Play Lab - Translation by K. Lambert

Duree de Jeu | Outdoor Play Time [FR]

Duree de Jeu | Outdoor Play Time [FR]

Infographic [FR]

Jun 2026

Outside Play Lab - Translation by K. Lambert

Duree de Jeu | Outdoor Play Time [FR]

Duree de Jeu | Outdoor Play Time [FR]

Explore All Resources

Outdoor play is a basic childhood need and taking risks is a necessary part of play. Whether jumping in a pile of leaves, climbing a tree, or playing street hockey, children are often happiest when playing. These kinds of experiences are a lot less common for kids today.

Links

About Us Toolkit Research News & Events Resources

Contact Us

playoutside@bcchr.ca | 604-875-2433 | Vancouver, BC

We gratefully acknowledge that our places of work lie on the ancestral unceded territories of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam).

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