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Why Schoolyards Matter
For many children, the schoolyard is the primary public space where well-being, belonging, and development are negotiated every day. Schoolyards hold powerful, but too often unrealized, potential to support unstructured play, physical activity, social connection, access to nature, outdoor learning, and opportunities for sport. Used daily by every child, they are among the most overlooked spaces in our education system.
Why NOW?
- Rising concerns related to overuse of social media and the decline of unstructured play, children’s mental health, social connection, and physical activity
- Growing attention to belonging, peer dynamics, and inclusion
- Increasing climate pressures that include heat, flooding, and reduction in access to green space and biodiversity
- Calls for more unstructured free play, movement, outdoor learning, and physical activity
Clear Evidence
A Systems Challenge
A Systems Challenge
High-quality schoolyards and recess environments:
- Strengthen mental health, belonging, and peer relationships
- Reduce conflict, exclusion, and behavioural challenges
- Support unstructured play and physical activity across abilities and ages
- Improve readiness to learn and school engagement
- Advance equity, especially in under-resourced communities
A Systems Challenge
A Systems Challenge
A Systems Challenge
Schoolyard quality is often shaped by:
- Inconsistent policy guidance
- Reliance on school council/parent fundraising
- Limited professional preparation for staff
- Lack of design standards or evaluation tools
This results in patchworks of opportunity rather than equitable access.
When schoolyards are poorly designed or unsupported, they can instead become sites of exclusion, loneliness, and inequity.
A Better Approach
A Better Approach
A Better Approach
Treating schoolyards as essential space allows us to:
- Embed schoolyards and recess into the fabric of schools and education policy
- Align with mental health, physical activity, and climate goals
- Invest sustainably rather than episodically
- Ensure inclusive, high-quality environments for all students
How We Can Help
A Better Approach
A Better Approach
Schoolyards For Thought™ advances knowledge, research, design, and policy to reimagine schoolyards as inclusive, meaningful environments that strengthen children’s daily experiences and the broader school climate. We work with schools, boards, school councils, governments, philanthropic, and community organizations. We offer keynotes and professional learning, consulting, research collaboration, and policy development to transform schoolyard and recess environments in sustainable, evidence-informed ways.
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