Congratulations to OPC Board Member, Dr Mariana Brussoni, who was awarded the 2024 Joe L Frost Award for distinguished research at the US Play Coalition Conference in Indiana held April 16-18, 2024! In the mid-2000s, Mariana dared to push back against the accepted attitude that play should be ‘as safe as possible’ instead of ‘as safe as necessary’, recognizing that this approach to raising children was likely problematic for their physical, mental, social, and emotional health and wellbeing. This conviction, backed by nearly two decades of research (with Mariana’s research group often leading the charge), has led to a revolutionary shift in mindset that will undoubtedly support the healthy development of children in Canada and abroad.

Congrats Mariana!

Learn more about Dr. Mariana Brussoni’s work here.

Learn more about the award, here.