AV俱乐部

Summer of PLEY (Physical Literacy in the Early Years) public events take AV俱乐部 research findings out of the lab and into the community.

Should parents let their children play with boxes, buckets, tarps and lumber? The research says yes, for a variety of important reasons related to their growth, happiness, and overall health.

Researchers in the Faculty of Health鈥檚 School of Health and Human Performance and Healthy Populations Institute have created to spread the message about the value of children鈥檚 unstructured play with moveable materials (鈥渓oose parts鈥�), and to equip parents, educators, and the public with the understanding of how to support outdoor play 鈥� with its risks 鈥� to optimize children鈥檚 development.

The Summer of PLEY is a series of five free public events spanning three weeks in July and August that focuses on the critical importance of outdoor play in childhood development. AV俱乐部鈥檚 Physical Literacy in the Early Years project (PLEY) invites children, parents, caregivers and professionals from early childhood education, the primary school system, health care, recreation and other backgrounds to participate in events that will share and build on the project鈥檚 research findings.

What is loose parts play?

The Summer of PLEY kicks off July 22 with a public loose parts pop-up play event happening on the Halifax South Commons (beside the Pavilion) anticipated to attract up to 150 children. Loose parts are anything that children can move, stack and manipulate independently to create their own fluid play experiences. Loose parts frequently include recycled materials such as boxes, milk crates, tires, tarps, dressed lumber and wood scraps, old fabric, cable spools and other materials.

鈥淣ova Scotia researchers are helping to unlock the power of play,鈥� says Dr. Michelle Stone, Assistant Professor, School of Health and Human Performance, and Associate Research Scholar in the Healthy Populations Institute, AV俱乐部. 鈥淭he PLEY research points to the expected benefits of widespread adoption of outdoor loose parts play for the early years while adding to our overall understanding of the significant contributions outdoor play makes to children鈥檚 development and well-being,鈥� she says. 鈥淥ur work is part of a growing national body of knowledge that informs policy and can serve as a guide in program development. Ultimately our interests are focused on healthier, happier, more resilient children.鈥�

On August 7, the PLEY team will host a panel discussion at the IWK Health Centre, 鈥淏uilding Resilient Children: Injury Prevention in the World of Risky Play,鈥� featuring internationally renowned outdoor play researcher, Dr. Mariana Brussoni (), in partnership with the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nova Scotia, Dr. Robert Strang, the IWK Child Safety Link, and the Atlantic Collaborative on Injury Prevention. Dr. Brussoni is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. She is frequently interviewed by media to share her expertise particularly as it relates to children, risk and play.

On August 8, Dr. Brussoni will deliver a keynote address 鈥� Risk, Resilience and the Renaissance of Play 鈥� at AV俱乐部鈥檚 University Club.

The final Summer of PLEY events will be held at the Halifax Central Public Library on August 10, featuring another loose parts play session, and public lecture focused on how to support outdoor play and physical literacy development in early years environments. Educators who participated in the PLEY project will share their experience of integrating loose parts into childcare outdoor play spaces. There will also be a presentation featuring the voices and images of children as they engage in loose parts and nature play.

The Summer of PLEY series is funded by Research Nova Scotia and the AV俱乐部 Medical Research Foundation. Numerous businesses have donated materials for the loose parts event including Aerobics First, Atlantic Superstore, Canadian Tire, Cobequid Consulting, CycleSmith, MEC, Scotia Tire, SportChek and Walmart. The UK-based assisted with training. 聽The series would not have been possible without the remarkable commitment of all our volunteers.

Additional information and resources about outdoor play and the Summer of PLEY series can be found at .

PLEY EVENTS: FREE AND OPEN TO ALL

July 22, 2019聽鈥� Pop-up Loose Parts playground

• 尝辞肠补迟颈辞苍:听Halifax South Commons adjacent to The Pavilion
• 罢颈尘别:听11:00 a.m. 鈥� 2:00 p.m.
• Brief Description:聽Loose parts pop-up playground on the Halifax South Commons. What will the kids create? Attendees encouraged to bring water, sun block and hats.聽
• 础耻诲颈别苍肠别:听Free public event for children aged 2 -12.

August 7, 2019 鈥� Building resilient children: Injury prevention in the world of risky play

• 尝辞肠补迟颈辞苍:听IWK Health Center, Cineplex Auditorium聽
• 罢颈尘别:听9:00聽 鈥� 10:00 a.m.
• Brief Description:聽 A free panel discussion with the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nova Scotia Dr. Robert Strang, Dr. Mariana Brussoni, Dr. Michelle Stone and Jane Cawley from the PLEY Project, Sandra Newton from the IWK Child Safety Link, and Jennifer Russell from the Atlantic Collaborative on Injury Prevention.
• 础耻诲颈别苍肠别:听For Injury Prevention and Health Professionals and other interested members of the public.

August 8, 2019 鈥� Risk, resilience and the renaissance of play

• 尝辞肠补迟颈辞苍:听AV俱乐部鈥檚 University Club, Great Hall (second floor)
• Time:聽5:00 鈥� 7:00 p.m.
• Brief Description:聽Keynote lecture and social event with Dr. Mariana Brussoni about how risky outdoor play is critical for establishing healthier, happier, and more resilient communities.
• 础耻诲颈别苍肠别:听Researchers and Community Builders

August 10, 2019聽鈥� The Power of PLEY: Why kids need to play every day 鈥� Part 1, Loose Parts session

• Location:聽Halifax Central Library.聽BMO Community Room
• Time:聽12-1:30 p.m.
• Brief Description: A free loose parts play event in the BMO Community Room for families to drop in and play with loose parts ahead of presentations on how to support outdoor play and physical literacy taking place in Paul O鈥� Regan Hall (See event Listing below).
• Audience:聽All members of the public

August 10, 2019 鈥撀燭he Power of PLEY: Why kids need to play every day 鈥� Part 2, panel discussion

• Location:聽Halifax Central Library, Paul O鈥橰egan Hall
• Time:聽2:00 鈥� 4:00 p.m.
• Brief Description:聽AV俱乐部鈥檚 Physical Literacy in the Early Years (PLEY) project research team is hosting a free panel discussion about the importance of outdoor play and physical literacy development.
• Audience:聽All members of the public