Growing up in a small town in British Columbia, Okanagan College educator Linda O'Donoghue recalls a time where she and her friends created a store out of leaf bouquets and headed out around the neighborhood going door to door to sell the bouquets.
Left to right: Deidre Craig and Linda O'Donoghue
Their efforts would catch the attention of the local newspaper who thought it was interesting enough for a short story.
It was an example of many of the childhood memories that O'Donoghue would reflect back on years later as she worked as an Early Childhood Educator. During those years she always tried to bring the concept of the benefits of outdoor play to her work with children.
It would also help inform her work on a new Outdoor Play and Learning Facilitator's Guide, developed for Early Childhood Educators.
"Loose parts and natural materials are not a new concept for children and their play," wrote O'Donoghue. "This story is one of many I hold as precious from my childhood that exemplifies the beautiful imaginative play that children engage in when provided time, freedom, and simple materials that are open ended."
O'Donoghue is now a Teaching and Learning advisor at Okanagan College and after a career spent in the Early Childhood Education field - where she would promote playful learning and outdoor play for all ages - she has co-published the new guide, designed to support Early Childhood Educators in implementing ways of using the outdoors to support the children they are teaching.
"When adults exhibit positive attitudes about outdoor play and nature and embrace being outdoors, there is a much higher chance that children will adopt a desire to be outdoors than if they do not have such positive role models," the guideline stated.
Funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C., the Outdoor Play and Learning Facilitators Guide is now available to address the professional learning needs of Early Childhood Educators in B.C. by creating much-needed, accessible learning. This initiative will directly impact children and families in B.C. and more than 300 Early Childhood Educators.
O'Donoghue worked with fellow Early Childhood instructor Deidre Craig of Saskatchewan Polytechnic on the guide. Outdoor play was a huge part of both educators' childhoods and led them into careers supporting families and children.
"I delighted in hours and hours outdoors coming inside only when called for supper, or when the lights came on. And sometimes...those outdoor adventures became family adventures as we camped and hiked through the Rocky Mountains of Alberta and I experimented with rocks and sticks and moving water. These places and spaces provided a sense of belonging in the bigness' of the world," wrote Craig.
Project partners included the B.C. Ministry of Education and Child Care, its partner organizations, and childcare facilities across the province. One-time federal funding was provided by the 2021-25 Canada-British Columbia Early Learning Child Care Agreement.
"This is an exceptional piece of work that will be a wonderful resource for our Early Childhood Education department as well as ECEs working with children and families wherever they are," said Okanagan College Dean of Health and Social Development Patrena Mackie. "It highlights our dedicated employees and their lifelong learning journey as they support students and communities. We are very proud of the work done by Linda and Deidre. Congratulations."
The guide is now available to Early Childhood Educators here while there are more details on Okanagan College's Early Childhood Education department here.
