A Good Start Matters

Physical activity and physical literacy are critical to child development and provide a foundation for a healthy life. Childcare is a key setting to promote physical activity and physical literacy supportive policies, practices, and environments.

In 2017, the BC government enacted the Director of Licensing Standard of Practice – Active Play, that required a set amount of active play, outdoor play and limits to screen-time. It incorporated fundamental movement skills, staff-modeling and implementation of active play and screen-time policies in childcare centres. At the same time, a capacity-building initiative for early childhood educators – Appetite to Play – supported the implementation of the standards.  

This webinar shows the impact of the Active Play standards and the Appetite to Play program, while highlighting factors that predicted policy and practice changes in early childhood settings.  

In this webinar, researchers PJ Naylor, Claire Tugault-Lafleur and Louise Mâsse present findings from their research program, A Good Start Matters. They explore positive changes in policies and practices related to active play, fundamental movement skills, outdoor play and screen time in childcare settings.

Speakers’ Profiles:

PJ Naylor is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education at the University of Victoria. Dr. Naylor’s research incorporates socio-ecological and setting-based approaches to children’s physical activity and physical literacy focusing on the environments where children live, learn and play. 

Claire Tugault-Lafleur is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Tugault-Lafleur’s research program emphasizes healthy eating in children and youth and is shaped by her background as a registered dietitian. 

Louise Mâsse is a full Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia and a level 3 scientist at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in Vancouver. She leads an active research program in childhood obesity treatment and prevention, and focuses on evaluating interventions that influence children’s physical activity and dietary behaviours.