Table 6 Childcare representatives’ responses about policies surrounding the amount of physical activity time at childcare centers across Canada
From: Physical activity and screen-viewing policies in Canadian childcare centers
British Columbia | |
Licensing requires this - at least 2 h a day | |
Guaranteed an hour of outside play time (minimum) | |
All children will participate in 2–6 h of outdoor play and physical activity daily. | |
Alberta | |
[A]t least 6 gross motor activities per week per educator | |
[D]aily activity outdoors up to 2 h[ours] each day | |
[C]hildren will engage in physical activity for a minimum of 30 min every day | |
Saskatchewan | |
We follow the healthy start program which recommends 180 min or more of moving activity per day. | |
One hour at least to run freely. Two to three guided physical activities per day | |
[A]t least 30 min a day | |
Manitoba | |
We are outside in the playground at least once a day. | |
1–4 h per day of outside play | |
Average active play is 3 h per day. We use school gym only when absolutely necessary. | |
Ontario | |
Our policy does not state physical activity - it does state time outside [time] - a minimum of 2 h per day | |
As per the CCEYA [Child Care Early Years Act], children are expected to play outdoors for a minimum of two hours per day. | |
180 min[utes] daily of physical activity including structured and unstructured. | |
Quebec | |
2 h outdoor daily structured and unstructured | |
3 h per day on average | |
Children 18 months - 4 years of age should be active 180 min throughout the day. | |
Nova Scotia | |
We spend more than 50% of the day outside… | |
[M]inimum 30 min each morning and afternoon | |
At least 1.5 h per day | |
New Brunswick | |
We are strongly encouraged to encourage physical activity outside for at least 2 h a day. | |
We follow the New Brunswick Operators Standards set forth by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development which mandates a minimum of two hours daily of outside play. | |
[M]inimum of 3 h daily | |
Prince Edward Island | |
Approx[imately]1.5 h in the [AM] then 1.5 in the afternoon. | |
The amount of physical play happens at least 1 h in the morning (outside) and at least 1–2 h in the afternoon (outside or in the gym) | |
The children & staff are out at least 3–4 times daily for back yard play… | |
Newfoundland & Labrador | |
On average 3 h of outdoor play per day. | |
Yukon | |
We require our children to get at least 1–2 h of physical activity daily, half will be structured and half unstructured. | |
Northwest Territories | |
20 min to 30 min of unstructured/structured outdoor/indoor. | |
[T]he daily program plan is to include gross motor activity daily. | |
Children receive at least 60 min per day of physical activity | |
Nunavut | |
[H]alf hour free play |