When we let children play on their own, they find ways to take risks and learn more about themselves and others. Studies show that when children engage in risky play, they build self-confidence, resilience, and even risk-management skills.
In a time when some children are rushed from one activity to another, while others sit at home because their parents don’t have the time or money, it can be easy to forget that sometimes, simple is best and less is more.
This is where BCAHL’s new initiative comes in: Active Play Clubs provide children the opportunity to play outdoors after the school day in an unstructured way, so they can play however they want. Under light supervision, students can explore, imagine and interact with each other, which in turn gives them the chance to be active and creative, build social skills, and enhance resilience and mental well-being.
Hear from Active Play Club leaders from three BC schools and learn how they brought unstructured play to their community, the impact it has had on their students, and how you can do it too!
Speakers:
Stephen Roberts is the Recreation Program Coordinator for Children and Youth with the City of Penticton. He oversees all programming for children and youth across the city, working to create inclusive, engaging, and developmentally enriching experiences for the community’s young people. Since moving from England, he has worked in Canada as an Early Childhood Educator, led outdoor early learning recreation programs, and managed a childcare centre.
Nicole Hoodicoff is the Family Support Services Coordinator at Childhood Connections, a family resource centre based in Kelowna. With a strong background in early childhood development, she brings valuable experience from previous roles in the community as a Supportive Childcare provider, Behavioural Inteventionist, and Early Childhood Educator.
Alice Ward is the Childcare Development Coordinator at the City of Kelowna. Alice has a background in Early Childhood Education and a passion for supporting families and young children. Since joining the City three years ago, Alice has contributed to community well-being through her work in recreation, supporting building operations at Parkinson Recreation Centre, as well as facilitating offsite community programming.
Sarah Wright is the Physical Literacy Mentor and Cycling Skills Coach at Play CR, based in Campbell River. She is a Practicing Kinesiologist and CSEP Certified Exercise Physiologist. As well as working directly with educators on physical literacy through her Physical Literacy Mentor role with Sport for Life, Sarah assists newcomer families finding recreation opportunities through her work with the Immigration Welcome Centre of North Vancouver Island.
