A child picks up a fallen leaf, turns it over and notices tiny lines running across its surface. A few steps away, another child is trying to balance along a low wooden edge. Nearby, two friends are pretending that a small collection of stones is food for an imaginary animal.

None of these children is sitting at a desk or completing a worksheet. Yet each is learning something.

They are observing, experimenting, moving, imagining and making sense of the world around them. These everyday experiences are part of what makes outdoor play so valuable during early childhood.

For parents exploring daycare with outdoor play programs in Edmonton, it is worth looking beyond whether a childcare centre has access to an outdoor space. The more important question is how children are encouraged to use that space to explore, learn and develop.

Why outdoor play is more than just fresh air

Outdoor play gives young children opportunities to learn through direct experiences. They can move their bodies, interact with different materials, notice changes in nature and make decisions during play.

Unlike many structured activities, outdoor experiences can be open-ended. A puddle might become a place to observe reflections, an imaginary lake or an opportunity to experiment with floating objects.

A simple walk can turn into a conversation about birds, leaves, clouds or changing weather.

These moments support several connected areas of early learning:

• Physical development: Running, jumping, climbing and balancing help children practise coordination, strength and movement.
• Cognitive development: Exploring natural materials encourages observation, comparison, problem-solving and curiosity.
• Language development: Asking questions, describing discoveries and sharing ideas give children opportunities to build vocabulary.
• Social development: Group games and shared exploration create opportunities to communicate, cooperate and take turns.
• Emotional development: Trying something unfamiliar, making choices and working through small challenges can help children build confidence.

Outdoor play does not need to look like a formal lesson to offer meaningful learning opportunities.

What recent research tells us about outdoor play

Recent Canadian research provides useful insight into how outdoor play fits into early learning.

A February 2026 study published in PLOS ONE, titled Examining Outdoor Play Associations in Canadian Early Learning and Child Care Centres, examined responses from 1,187 licensed early learning and childcare centres across Canada.

The researchers, including University of British Columbia researcher Dr. Mariana Brussoni, found that most participating centres took children outdoors daily, regardless of season, although outdoor time was generally shorter during winter.

The study also identified factors associated with outdoor-play opportunities, including educator training, children's autonomy, access to suitable outdoor clothing and the availability of varied play materials.

This is an important distinction: outdoor learning is not simply about providing a playground. The environment, materials and way educators support children's exploration also matter.

Another useful source is the University of British Columbia's Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) 2026 Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (CHEQ) Provincial Summary.

Its analysis linked children's reported early experiences with developmental information for children in British Columbia. Among the findings:

• 48% of children who played outdoors six to seven days per week met the EDI developmental expectations across all five areas.
• The figure was 30.8% among children who played outdoors one day per week or less.
• Children who played outdoors two to three days per week had a figure of 39.5%, while those playing four to five days per week had a figure of 42.8%.

These findings show an association between more frequent outdoor play and developmental outcomes. They do not prove that outdoor play alone causes better development, and the figures represent British Columbia data, not Edmonton-specific results.

Still, they highlight why regular opportunities to play outdoors deserve attention in early childhood settings.

Five ways outdoor play supports early learning

1. Movement helps children understand their abilities

Young children learn about their bodies by using them.

Running across an open space, stepping over a small obstacle, throwing a ball or balancing along a suitable surface gives children opportunities to practise different movements.

These experiences help develop coordination, balance and body awareness. They also allow children to notice what feels comfortable and what requires more practice.

For example, a toddler may initially need support when stepping over a small object. With repeated opportunities and appropriate supervision, the child can gradually become more confident.

The goal is not to encourage children to compete or perform perfectly. It is to provide suitable opportunities for movement at their own pace.

2. Nature encourages curiosity and observation

A garden, tree, patch of grass or collection of natural materials can offer countless opportunities for exploration.

Children might notice that leaves have different shapes, compare the textures of stones or observe how water moves after rainfall.

Educators can build on these interests with simple questions:

• What do you notice about this leaf?
• How are these two stones different?
• Where do you think the water is going?
• What might happen if we place this object in water?

These conversations encourage children to observe carefully, describe what they see and begin making connections.

Nature exploration can also introduce early ideas about seasons, weather, living things and the environment without turning every experience into a formal science lesson.

3. Imaginative play develops creativity

Give preschoolers a few open-ended materials and they may create an entire imaginary world.

A stick can become a magic wand. A collection of leaves might become ingredients for a pretend meal. An outdoor space can turn into a shop, a campsite or an animal habitat.

Imaginative play gives children opportunities to create stories, explore different roles and express ideas.

It also encourages flexible thinking. When a game changes or an idea does not work as expected, children have opportunities to adapt and try something different.

Educators can support this kind of play by allowing children to lead their ideas rather than directing every step.

4. Playing together supports social skills

Outdoor activities often create natural opportunities for children to interact.

A group might work together to build something with loose materials, take turns with a ball or invent rules for a chasing game.

These experiences can help children practise listening, cooperation, communication and problem-solving.

Disagreements may happen, especially when children have different ideas about how a game should work. With patient guidance, educators can help children express their thoughts and consider solutions.

The learning is not only in the game itself. It is also in the conversations and relationships that develop along the way.

5. Age-appropriate challenges can build confidence

Children often learn by trying something that feels a little unfamiliar.

Dr. Mariana Brussoni, a professor at the University of British Columbia and a leading researcher in children's outdoor and risky play, has contributed significantly to understanding how children benefit from opportunities to explore and take age-appropriate challenges.

Her research encourages adults to distinguish between reasonable developmental challenges and preventable hazards.

For example, stepping over a low obstacle or exploring an uneven surface under appropriate supervision can give a child an opportunity to assess their abilities and make decisions.

This does not mean removing safety measures. It means creating environments where children can explore with suitable boundaries, attentive supervision and support that matches their age and abilities.

How outdoor learning fits into Alberta's early learning approach

Alberta's Flight: Alberta's Early Learning and Care Framework provides a provincial foundation for understanding how young children learn.

The framework places relationships, play, holistic development and children's experiences at the centre of early learning. It recognises children as active participants who build knowledge through interactions with people, materials and their surroundings.

Outdoor experiences can connect naturally with this approach.

A child observing a bird, building with natural materials or creating a game with friends is doing more than passing time. These experiences can encourage curiosity, communication, problem-solving and relationships.

For parents considering early learning and daycare programs in Edmonton, it can be helpful to ask how a childcare provider connects everyday play with children's interests and development.

What should parents look for in a daycare with outdoor play?

When comparing childcare options, parents can ask a few practical questions:

1. How often do children have opportunities to play outdoors?
2. Are outdoor experiences offered across different seasons, weather permitting?
3. What kinds of activities are available for infants, toddlers and preschoolers?
4. How do educators balance children's independence with appropriate supervision?
5. Are children encouraged to explore, ask questions and use their imagination?
6. How are outdoor activities adapted for different developmental stages?

It is also worth asking what happens when the weather changes. Suitable clothing, safe surfaces and thoughtful planning can help make outdoor experiences possible in different seasons.

For Edmonton families, winter does not have to mean that outdoor exploration stops completely. The suitability of outdoor time depends on weather conditions, children's needs, clothing and applicable safety guidance.

Bringing outdoor learning into everyday family life

Parents do not need elaborate equipment or a long outing to encourage outdoor exploration.

A short walk around the neighbourhood can become an opportunity to notice changing leaves, listen for birds or talk about the weather.

At home, children might:

• Collect and compare leaves or other safe natural materials.
• Look for different shapes, colours and textures.
• Watch clouds and talk about what they resemble.
• Play simple movement games outdoors.
• Help care for plants and observe how they change.

The most important part is allowing children time to notice, ask questions and explore. Sometimes a child will spend several minutes investigating one small object. That curiosity is worth making room for.

Making outdoor play part of meaningful early learning

Outdoor play gives children room to move, imagine, observe and connect with the world around them. A simple activity can become a chance to practise physical skills, ask questions, solve problems or build relationships.

For parents exploring play-based learning daycare in Edmonton, it is worth looking for a program that values these everyday experiences and understands that learning happens in many different environments.

At Angel Keepers Daycare, families can learn more about the centre's age-based programs and early learning approach on the Our Programs page.

If you are considering childcare for your child, you can also contact Angel Keepers Daycare to ask questions or arrange a facility visit.

A child's next meaningful learning experience might begin with something as simple as a leaf, a puddle or a question about the world outside.