Participation in outdoor play is proven beneficial for the health and well-being of children, yet many young children have decreased opportunities for such play due to societal changes. A recent study, the PROmoting Early Childhood Outside (PRO-ECO) trial, aims to assess the efficacy of interventions implemented at early childhood education centers (ECECs) across Greater Vancouver, British Columbia. This comprehensive pilot trial sought to evaluate strategies to increase outdoor play opportunities for children aged 2.5 to 6 years.
The PRO-ECO trial involved eight ECECs, enrolling 217 children and targeting common barriers to outdoor play, including parental concerns about safety and quality environmental conditions. Many young children are reported to have reduced access to outdoor spaces largely due to increased screen time and changing neighborhoods, necessitating interventions from formal childcare settings where children spend much of their early years.
The trial implemented four key components: outdoor play policy development within ECECs, training for educators, modifications to available outdoor spaces to encourage play, and engagement with parents to promote outdoor play. The study measured changes to outdoor play across three time points: baseline, six-month follow-up, and twelve-month follow-up. Using observational behavior mapping, researchers documented children's outdoor play behavior and categorized it as either play or non-play based on established criteria.
Despite implementing the comprehensive PRO-ECO intervention, the results indicated no significant increase in outdoor play participation for children enrolled. The researchers noted, "The findings indicate...further analyses on child- and ECEC-level outcomes are required to effectively assess the impact of this intervention," highlighting the complexity of measuring outcomes when educational settings already exhibit high baseline levels of outdoor play.
The data showed high levels of play participation prior to intervention implementation, with children engaging approximately 83.7% of the time at the outset of the trial, which may have led to what is called a ceiling effect. This suggests limited potential for improvement when children are already highly engaged. Although the initial goal of increasing outdoor play participation did not materialize as hoped, there were variations noted among the different ECECs participating. Some centers observed increases following the intervention, particularly those making significant modifications to their outdoor environments.
The researchers remarked, "This study was not...to analyze the effect of each intervention component separately on children’s outdoor play participation," calling for more focused analyses to understand the individual effects of each component on changing play behaviors. Observations from the trial point to the need for adaptability of interventions to local circumstances and the sustainability of newly adopted practices.
Future initiatives must also prioritize continuity and support, as the study noted challenges such as staff turnover and fluctuative participation rates, which could undermine the long-term sustainability of the PRO-ECO intervention. To facilitate lasting changes, continuous engagement of family members within the intervention process, along with consistent training and mentorship for educators, are needed to encourage shared values around outdoor play.
Overall, the PRO-ECO trial components offer insights for future projects aimed at bolstering children's connections to outdoor play. While immediate outcomes were not as substantial as anticipated, lessons learned can inform both policy and practice, emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches to early childhood education and play intervention. Further analysis of diverse play types and their impacts on child well-being could provide richer perspectives on the intervention's effectiveness.
By refining outdoor play initiatives to address the specific needs of each ECEC and fostering collaborative efforts between educators, parents, and community stakeholders, interventions can be structured to support and promote sustainable outdoor play experiences, enhancing the overall development and health of young children throughout the early years.