Across SD 60, many families have noticed more indoor days, more restrictions on play, and shorter or more regulated recesses. These changes reflect a broader trend across Canada, where children’s outdoor freedom has steadily decreased — even though outdoor play is essential for healthy development.

Historically, Canadian schools embraced all‑weather outdoor play. Children went outside in every season, built snow forts, climbed snowbanks, and learned to navigate the world with confidence. Today, however, administrators carry significant responsibilities around safety, injury reporting, and liability. These pressures make it difficult to loosen rules, even when educators understand the developmental benefits of outdoor play.

My concern is simple: when we limit outdoor play, we limit children’s opportunities to build resilience, independence, emotional regulation, and social skills. Outdoor play isn’t just “fun time” — it’s a critical part of how children learn and grow. When kids miss it, we often see more behavioural challenges, more stress, and less readiness to learn.

At the same time, I fully recognize the pressures administrators face. They are responsible for the safety of every student and staff member, and any changes to recess routines can create real logistical challenges. This petition is not about blame — it’s about understanding those pressures and working together to find a healthier balance.

Research from across Canada and internationally shows that outdoor play is both safe and beneficial. Injuries during outdoor play are relatively rare and usually minor, and countries known for strong child well‑being — like Norway, Sweden, and Finland — continue to embrace all‑weather outdoor time and reasonable risk as part of healthy development.

We can do the same here.

I’m asking SD 60 to work with parents, educators, and administrators to:

• Re‑examine weather policies
• Reduce unnecessary indoor days
• Allow developmentally appropriate freedom during recess
• Support administrators with clear, balanced guidelines
• Create district‑wide consistency so families understand expectations

Ultimately, this is about giving children the outdoor play they need while supporting the people responsible for keeping them safe. We can honour both safety and childhood — and we can do it together.