Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) in School Communities – March 2020 Update

Outdoor play is an important part of childhood; the benefits of play to a child’s physical, social and emotional health are well documented. This project involves a longitudinal study of children’s play behaviour and related social/cognitive health outcomes at six public elementary schools in Toronto. The baseline study examines the current state of play at TDSB schools and its relationship to school environment. After a one-year intervention focusing on improvements to play environment (largely by introducing loose parts and training on play supervision), a follow study will be conducted to evaluate changes in the quality and quantity of play engagement by children.