A Web-Based Risk-Reframing Intervention to Influence Early Childhood Educators’ Attitudes and Supportive Behaviors Toward Outdoor Play : Protocol for the OutsidePlay Study Randomized Controlled Trial

Early learning and childcare centers (ELCCs) can offer young children critical opportunities for quality outdoor play. There are multiple actual and perceived barriers to outdoor play in ELCCs, ranging from safety fears and lack of familiarity with supporting play outdoors to challenges around diverse perspectives on outdoor play among colleagues, administrators, licensing officers and parents. Results: The primary outcome is increased tolerance of risk in children’s play, as measured by the Teacher Tolerance of Risk in Play Scale. The secondary outcome is self-reported attainment of a self-developed behavior change goal. We will test the hypothesis that there will be a difference between the intervention and control groups with respect to tolerance of risk in children’s play using mixed-effects models. Differences in goal attainment will be tested using logistic regression. Conclusion: The OutsidePlay web-based intervention guides users through a personalized journey that is split into three chapters. An effective intervention that addresses the barriers to outdoor play in ELCC settings has the potential to improve children’s access to outdoor play and support high quality early childhood education.Medicine, Faculty ofPediatrics, Department ofPopulation and Public Health (SPPH), School ofEducation, Faculty ofNon UBCReviewedFacultyResearche