Studies & Research

Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) founded HIGH FIVE^® in 2001 after years of research. PRO's research projects help to inform its quality standard and strengthen HIGH FIVE's training, tools and resources to be on trend with current information about healthy child development. 

Research shows the experiences children have in recreation and sport at an early age carry a life- long impact. Positive experiences help children become capable, caring adults who contribute more effectively to the community in the future. 

PRO’s research also identifies five Principles of healthy child development that are essential for quality programs:

• A Caring Leader
• the opportunity to Play
• make Friends
• Master Skills and
• Participate

Furthermore, the research supports that in order for sport and recreation programs to meet the developmental needs of children, the following elements must be in place:

1. Practitioners must have knowledge and training on the development of children
2. Practitioners must be able to assess the impact of all aspects of their program on children
3. Practitioners must adhere to the 5 Principles of healthy child development in:
   • The design and development of programs and activities,
   • the delivery of programs and activities,
   • the hiring and training of staff, and
   • the selection of sites and environments
4. Significant emphasis on interactions between children and staff as recreation and sport leaders are perfectly situated to play this critical role

Research:

• HIGH FIVE Impact Study - Key Findings: In recognition of 15 years of HIGH FIVE, this report outlines the impact the HIGH FIVE Standard has had on its organizations and the children they serve across Canada. Read the full Summary Report here
• Physical Literacy and Injury Prevention: Evidence shows that there is a need to increase the knowledge of physical literacy and injury prevention by practitioners in children’s recreation programs
• Resiliency and Recreation: Substantiates the foundation on which HIGH FIVE is based, specifically that as the role of A Caring Adult and Friends increases, so does resiliency in children
• Making a Difference: Summary of Research Related to the Development and Implementation of HIGH FIVE
• Benefits Barriers and Quality in Children's Recreation and Sport: Literature Review: The Levy-Coughlin Partnership.
• Report on a Study of the Reliability and Validity of the Quality Experience Scanning Tools (QUEST): The Levy-Coughlin Partnership
• HIGH FIVE Sport Primer Summary Report: Summary Research of the viability and need for a HIGH FIVE Sport training for the sport sector.
• HIGH FIVE Sport Primer Survey Summary Report -- Executive Summary and Highlights: An overview of the findings from the HIGH FIVE Sport Primer summary report
• What we Know About Effects of Sport and Elite Athletics on Child Development Outcomes? A review of the literature: Offord Centre in partnership with HIGH FIVE
• Defining Quality for Canadian Active After School Experiences and Programs: The Canadian Active After School Partnership (CAASP) has developed a working description of what it means to offer a quality after school programs
• Healthy Minds in Active Bodies: A Resource of the Canadian Active After School Partnership: Provides information regarding the links between participation in quality, active after school programs and children and youth’s mental health
• Multi-Sectoral Framework for Action on the After School Time Period: HIGH FIVE is recognized by federal government in 2012 as part of the shared areas of action for training
• F/P/T After-School Time Period Physical Activity Post Workshop Report: From May 4th, 2010 outlined HIGH FIVE training be included in a standardized offering to frontline leaders working within the after school time period