Screen Time and Active Play Policy
At Newleaf Learning & Childcare Centre, we are committed to supporting the healthy growth and development of every child. We believe that young children learn best through active exploration, hands-on experiences, and meaningful interactions with their environment and peers.
For this reason, our program prioritizes movement, outdoor play, and active learning experiences, while minimizing screen use.
Our practices follow the recommendations of the Director of Licensing Standard of Practice for Screen Time as well as the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Young Children.
Screen Time
At Newleaf Learning & Childcare Centre, screen use is kept to a minimum and is used only when it supports educational or movement-based activities.
Our screen time guidelines are as follows:
- Children under the age of 2 years do not participate in any screen time while at the centre.
- Children aged 2 years and older may have limited screen exposure of less than 10 minutes per day while in care.
When screens are used, they are carefully selected and may include educational content, music and movement activities, or guided learning experiences. Screen time is never used as a form of passive entertainment or supervision.
Our goal is to ensure that children spend the majority of their day engaged in active play, social interaction, creativity, and exploration.
Active Play
Active play is an essential part of children’s physical and mental development. Our program follows the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines, which recommend:
- Infants (under 1 year) should be physically active several times throughout the day, particularly through interactive floor-based play such as reaching, rolling, crawling, and exploring.
- Toddlers and preschoolers should accumulate at least 180 minutes of physical activity throughout the day, with a minimum of 60 minutes of active play occurring during child care hours.
At Newleaf, children participate in daily opportunities for active movement, both indoors and outdoors.
Outdoor Play
Outdoor play is an important part of our program and takes place every day whenever possible. Children typically enjoy at least 60 minutes of outdoor play in the morning, with additional outdoor time often provided in the afternoon.
Outdoor experiences allow children to explore nature, develop physical skills, and enjoy fresh air.
Children go outside in most weather conditions, except during extreme weather situations that may affect safety.
To ensure children can participate comfortably in outdoor play, parents are asked to provide weather-appropriate clothing, such as:
- Rain jackets and splash pants or muddy buddies
- Boots and waterproof clothing
- Hats and mittens when needed
- Snow suits during winter months
A spare set of outdoor clothing should be kept at the centre whenever possible.
The Importance of Active Play
Active play includes physical activities that involve movement, energy, and engagement, such as running, jumping, climbing, balancing, and exploring.
For infants and toddlers, active play may include reaching for toys, rolling, crawling, balancing, and early walking.
Active play supports children’s overall development by:
- Strengthening bones and muscles
- Improving balance and coordination
- Developing gross motor and fine motor skills
- Supporting healthy growth and physical fitness
- Increasing confidence and independence
- Improving focus, concentration, and learning skills
- Encouraging social interaction and friendships
At Newleaf Learning & Childcare Centre, we believe that active children are healthy children. By encouraging movement, outdoor exploration, and physical play, we help children develop strong bodies, confident minds, and a lifelong love of being active.