“Yes! Bare Feet Are Allowed Outdoors”

Jaime Barratt and Debra Harwood examine how early childhood educators’ beliefs and perceptions shape outdoor nature play practices in Canadian early learning settings. Grounded in a two-year qualitative study framed by Bronfenbrenner&s;s bioecological systems theory, the chapter highlights how individual, institutional, and societal factors such as licensing regulations, cultural norms, and access to natural spaces affect the provision of outdoor nature play. Having analyzed data from educators, supervisors, curriculum leaders, and executives, the authors propose strategies to foster systemic change and expand equitable access to meaningful outdoor nature play.