New Playability Index Reveals Outdoor Play Gaps for Kids

Urban children’s access to outdoor play varies significantly across Canada, according to newly released research led by Dr. Emily Gemmell, a postdoctoral researcher at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health. The study introduces Canada’s first nationwide “playability index,” designed to evaluate how well different neighbourhoods facilitate outdoor play for young children.

The importance of outdoor play in a child’s development cannot be overstated. Dr. Gemmell emphasizes that unlike adults, children engage in physical activity primarily through play, which is crucial for their health and development. Outdoor environments encourage movement and support the acquisition of both gross and fine motor skills, as well as social interaction and cognitive development. She notes that diverse natural spaces provide children with the variety necessary to learn and grow.

Despite its significance, many urban areas do not adequately support children’s outdoor play. The research identifies several barriers preventing kids from engaging freely in their surroundings. Predominantly, cities designed for car travel lead to parental concerns regarding traffic safety. Additionally, fears about social safety and the availability of screen-based entertainment contribute to a decline in outdoor playtime. While adults generally think of parks and playgrounds as play spaces, children often view a wider range of environments as opportunities for play, provided they can access them independently.

The creation of the playability index was driven by the need to assess neighbourhoods from a child-centric perspective. Traditional urban health metrics primarily focus on adult behaviours, such as walkability and access to public transport. In contrast, young children play in a more spontaneous and exploratory manner. Dr. Gemmell’s team reviewed global research on urban features that promote outdoor play and identified five key domains: traffic safety, social environment, availability of play spaces, child-friendly destinations, and natural environments. They developed 15 specific indicators based on these domains using Canadian data.

When the index was applied across Canada, the results revealed significant disparities. Although average playability scores were relatively consistent among cities, substantial differences existed within individual urban areas. In some neighbourhoods, playability scores varied by as much as 77 percent. Alarmingly, the research found that 39 percent of children live in areas where critical factors such as safe streets or access to nature fall within the bottom 10 percent of all neighbourhoods.

The playability index aims to serve families and policymakers by providing a publicly accessible tool for assessing neighbourhoods’ support for outdoor play. Covering areas where over 72 percent of Canadian children reside, the index illustrates where improvements are needed. Dr. Gemmell stresses that while family and individual factors are important, urban planners and policymakers can make significant changes to improve children’s access to play-friendly environments.

Families can visit the PlayScore website to evaluate their neighbourhood’s performance across various playability indicators. This resource is intended to spark local discussions, highlight community strengths, and identify areas for improvement, ultimately advocating for more child-friendly spaces in urban design.

As cities continue to evolve, the insights from Dr. Gemmell’s research underscore the necessity for urban planners to adopt a child-centric approach, ensuring that all children have the opportunity for safe and accessible outdoor play.