Table 7 Childcare representatives’ responses about policies surrounding location of physical activity opportunities at childcare centers across Canada

Indoor

 [I]t is in our daily routine to have indoor physical activity inside for half an hour to one hour (ON)

 If it is not appropriate to go outside for the day the children will be lead in indoor running games, obstacle courses, yoga, and dancing (YU)

 … we encourage gross motor movements in the classrooms throughout the day (NS)

 We have a huge gym where the play is often unstructured (BC)

 We do not have access to an indoor gym but our rooms have moveable furniture so that it can be pushed aside to make a space big enough for active play (MB)

Outdoor

 [M]ajority of time is outdoors… (QB)

 Two hours a day of outdoor play, weather permitting (MB)

 Children are to go outside daily (NWT)

 [S]pacious, variety of activity opportunities which includes climbing, crouching, crawling, planting, sliding, etc. (NB)

 Focus on creating ‘natural’ environments, but also have climbers, swings, and bike paths in some yards (BC)

Weather

 Our policy is that we go outside daily when the weather permits it, following the CSA [Canadian Standards Association] guidelines (BC)

 Children are outside everyday except when the weather is bad, ex[ample] excessive rain or snow and very cold temperatures (SK)

 Children have 2 daily active play time outside (weather dependent) or in the gym (NWT)

 If weather does not permit outdoor play, an indoor gym is used for the same structure (ON)

 At least twice per day outside playtime weather permit (QB)

 All age groups are outside at least 2 times a day, in all weather (NS)