Motivations and challenges for grandparent–grandchild outdoor play in early childhood: Perception of Canadian grandparents

Abstract Objective We investigated grandparents' motivations and challenges for grandparent–grandchild outdoor play with their 3‐ to 5‐year‐old grandchildren. Background Outdoor benefits children's older persons' mental physical health. Thus, intergenerational could benefit both grandparents younger Method Semistructured interviews were conducted 14 (seven grandmothers seven grandfathers) from British Columbia, Canada, who lived in the same province as grandchildren fluent English. Grandparents recruited using a convenience, purposive sampling method social media advertisements, posters community centers, word of mouth. Results Using thematic analysis, we identified six themes: (a) improving grandchildren's health, (b) supporting needs, (c) feeling positive emotions, (d) family closeness, (e) aspiring go outdoors together, and, (f) maintaining relationship despite COVID‐19 pandemic. Conclusion Our study emphasizes importance grandparents, especially they develop young provides unique opportunity health‐boosting activity that also strengthens bonds, supports developmental needs. Implications research can contribute promoting across life span, more specifically during early childhood adulthood.