Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play.

Mark Tremblay,Mariana Brussoni,William Pickett,Ellen Sandseter,Shawna Babcock,Joel Barnes,Ian Janssen,Cam Collyer,Brenda Simon,Marlene Power,Christa Bradstreet,Guylaine Chabot,Katherine Janson,David Chorney,Richard Larouche,Dawn Carr,Louise Choquette,Casey Gray,Susan Herrington

doi:10.3390/ijerph120606475

Abstract

A diverse, cross-sectorial group of partners, stakeholders and researchers, collaborated to develop an evidence-informed Position Statement on active outdoor play for children aged 3–12 years. The Position Statement was created in response to practitioner, academic, legal, insurance and public debate, dialogue and disagreement on the relative benefits and harms of active (including risky) outdoor play. The Position Statement development process was informed by two systematic reviews, a critical appraisal of the current literature and existing position statements, engagement of research experts (N = 9) and cross-sectorial individuals/organizations (N = 17), and an extensive stakeholder consultation process (N = 1908). More than 95% of the stakeholders consulted strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with the Position Statement; 14/17 participating individuals/organizations endorsed it; and over 1000 additional individuals and organizations requested their name be listed as a supporter. The final Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play states: “Access to active play in nature and outdoors—with its risks— is essential for healthy child development. We recommend increasing children’s opportunities for self-directed play outdoors in all settings—at home, at school, in child care, the community and nature.” The full Position Statement provides context for the statement, evidence supporting it, and a series of recommendations to increase active outdoor play opportunities to promote healthy child development.

Highlights

There is global concern over the progressive trend towards lifestyles that are conducive to the promotion of non-communicable diseases [1,2]
The purpose of this paper is to describe the process used to develop the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play and present, explain, substantiate and discuss the final
The development and release of the Position Statement included securing funding, the completion of two systematic literature reviews, the establishment of a multi-disciplinary consensus group, an extensive stakeholder survey and consultation process, an opportunity for supportive stakeholders to be acknowledged, a comprehensive media, public relations and communication plan, a coordinated dissemination strategy, and proactive planning for follow-up action. This project was initiated by the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (HALO; www.haloresearch.ca) at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute

Summary

Introduction

There is global concern over the progressive trend towards lifestyles that are conducive to the promotion of non-communicable diseases [1,2]. Childhood obesity and inactivity are prominently featured in this challenge, requiring solutions that take a life-course approach, emphasizing the importance of cumulative physical, social and cultural exposures [1,2,3,4,5]. The proportion of children around the world meeting physical activity guidelines is very low and likely declining [7,8]. This is troubling as physical activity and sedentary behaviour habits formed during childhood tend to track over time into adulthood [9,10]. Finding strategies to promote healthy child development through the prevention of obesity and inactivity are required. Approaches that are accessible, acceptable, culturally adaptable, feasible, cost-effective, and scalable are a priority worldwide

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion