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Review
. 2015 Jun 8;12(6):6475-505.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph120606475.

Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play

Mark S Tremblay  1   2   3 , Casey Gray  4 , Shawna Babcock  5 , Joel Barnes  6 , Christa Costas Bradstreet  7 , Dawn Carr  8 , Guylaine Chabot  9 , Louise Choquette  10 , David Chorney  11 , Cam Collyer  12 , Susan Herrington  13 , Katherine Janson  14 , Ian Janssen  15 , Richard Larouche  16 , William Pickett  17 , Marlene Power  18 , Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter  19 , Brenda Simon  20 , Mariana Brussoni  21
Affiliations
Review

Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play

Mark S Tremblay et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

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.

Keywords: health promotion; injury; physical activity; playground; risk taking; safety.

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