page1

1931: Subcommittee on Housing and Home Management of the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection encourages housing that provides children with a designated play space (playroom or bedroom), in order to keep them out of the public spaces of the streets [6].

1920s: Impetus to construct children’s playgrounds in urban areas – by 1927 there are 5,600 playgrounds in 790 US cities.

1921: The first chapter ofGirl Scouts USA is founded in Savannah Georgia.

1901: A new definition of “delinquency” is added to the basic law. The new definition of a delinquent now includes children under 16 who frequent houses of “ill-fame,” or who knowingly patronize policy shops or places where any gaming devices are located.

1855: The first kindergarten or “child’s garden”—based on the theories of Friedrich Froebel—is introduced to the United States. Initially limited to the upper classes, by the 1870s kindergartners developed charity kindergartens for children of so-called “inadequate mothers” [2]

1876: Based on early charitable clubs for boys in and around Hartford, the first large-scale Boy’s Club is established in New York. The club provides boys and male youth with games, classes in art and carpentry, organized sports, books and “moral instruction”. The Boys’ Club Movement spreads quickly, and by 1923, the Boys' Club Federation includes 180 boys' clubs across the United States. In addition to providing opportunities for leisure and social interaction, the Boys’ Clubs serve as part youth homeless shelters and part juvenile crime prevention strategy [14].

1908: The Juvenile Delinquents Act (JDA) is passed, based on the same sentiments of the playground movement. The JDA provides no clear legal definition of “delinquency,” but the term is applied to both status and criminal offenses and leads to numerous arrests of minors for activities that would not be considered crimes if the perpetrators were adults. The JDA is used to regulate children’s behaviour in public places, especially places of entertainment, with vague charges such as “incorrigibility,” “delinquency,” and “vagrancy”.

1908: The first Canadian Boy Scouts company is established, following the growing Scouting Movement launched by British Lt. Gen. Baden-Powell. The Canadian General Council of the Boy Scout Association is incorporated and given legitimacy by an act of the Canadian Parliament in 1914. [10]

1910: The first Canadian chapter of the British-born Girl Guides Movement is established. The legitimacy and perceived value of Girl Guides is officially recognized in 1917, when the Canadian government passes an Act of Parliament approving the constitution of the Canadian Girl Guides Association [11].

1914: The Toronto Local Council of Women (TLCW) establishes the Big Sisters Association (BSA), providing informal parole officers (Big Sisters) to supervise the free time of young women who had appeared in juvenile court (including victims or moral crimes or family disputes). The moral status of these “little sisters” is evaluated through their recreational habits.

1951: The Little League Baseball organization establishes leagues in Cape Breton and Vancouver, the first chartered leagues outside of the US.

1973: Prime Minister Trudeau initiates a national program to raise awareness about exercise and fitness called participACTION, and the Canadian Fitness Movement begins. In 1978, Portage la Prairie high school in Manitoba makes it mandatory for all students to attend daily 20 minute physical activity sessions [12].

1974: Canadian Council on Children and Youth initiate a National Task Force on Children’s Play [5].

1980: The findings and recommendations of the National Task Force on Children's Play (1974-) is published by the Canadian Council on Children and Youth. The document acts as a resource for the planning of formal and informal play spaces (from playgrounds to organized sports teams).

1984: The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association drafts a policy on play.