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.

Discover More

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.

Discover More

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.

Discover More

Explore All Research

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

Explore All News & Events

Resources

Apr 2026

The Locked up Living Podcast

Reimagining Play: The Role of Risk in Childhood Growth

Dr. Mariana Brussoni talks with Dr. Naomi Murphy and David Jones, of The Locked up Living Podcast, about the importance of outdoor risky play.

Apr 2026

The Locked up Living Podcast

Reimagining Play: The Role of Risk in Childhood Growth

Dr. Mariana Brussoni talks with Dr. Naomi Murphy and David Jones, of The Locked up Living Podcast, about the importance of outdoor risky play.

Feb 2026

The Seattle Times

As kids adapt to boredom, unstructured fun rises again

Importance of unstructured play in children's lives and their delopment

Feb 2026

The Seattle Times

As kids adapt to boredom, unstructured fun rises again

Importance of unstructured play in children's lives and their delopment

Feb 2026

Active Play, Every Day Podcast

Active Play and Why Risky Play Matters More Than You Think

Dr. Emily Greenwald talks with Dr. Mariana Brussoni about the importance of children's outdoor risky play

Feb 2026

Active Play, Every Day Podcast

Active Play and Why Risky Play Matters More Than You Think

Dr. Emily Greenwald talks with Dr. Mariana Brussoni about the importance of children's outdoor risky play

Jan 2026

The Walrus

Is It Dangerous to let Kids Be Free?

Article looks at children's independence and play outside. Includes interview with Dr. Mariana Brussoni.

Jan 2026

The Walrus

Is It Dangerous to let Kids Be Free?

Article looks at children's independence and play outside. Includes interview with Dr. Mariana Brussoni.

Jan 2026

Teach Outdoors

Embracing Risky Play at Schools with Dr. Mariana Brussoni

Dr. Mariana Brussoni talks with Lauren MacLean about risky play, and how teachers and educators can better support it in schools.

Jan 2026

Teach Outdoors

Embracing Risky Play at Schools with Dr. Mariana Brussoni

Dr. Mariana Brussoni talks with Lauren MacLean about risky play, and how teachers and educators can better support it in schools.

Jan 2026

CBC News

Lego unveils new ‘smart bricks’ with interactive lights and sounds

Experts consider effects of Lego's new 'smart bricks' on children's play and development

Jan 2026

CBC News

Lego unveils new ‘smart bricks’ with interactive lights and sounds

Experts consider effects of Lego's new 'smart bricks' on children's play and development

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).

Copyright © 2024 Terms and Conditions