“I could list one million benefits!” Exploring perceptions & practices of outdoor play in the YMCA from a bioecological perspective

Outdoor play is an essential aspect of childhood. Yet increasingly children are spending less time outdoors and outdoor play is on a steady decline. In Canada, there are approximately 12,664 early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres serving over 700, 000 children, with 91% of these programs serving preschool-age children and 39% providing services for school-age children (54% also providing care for infants and 73% offer services for toddlers). Many young children spend multiple hours of their day attending ECEC programs (research estimates that children under the age of 4 years spend 48.4% of their awake time in ECEC programs). From a bioecological perspective, multiple stakeholders have an important role in ensuring outdoor play. Yet noticeable gaps exist within outdoor play provision, for example, some educators misconstrue the value of outdoor play and their role. Ideally, all stakeholders should be knowledgeable and able to perceive the “one million benefits” while also feeling confident and well-supported to enact outdoor play.