Author Default
WRITTEN BY
Jo Johnson
Head of Early Years
December 04, 2024

Risky Play In The Early Years

Boys enjoying forest school

As teachers and parents, we encourage children to be bold and take risks in their learning. We remind them that it is ok to make mistakes and to learn from them. However, this message sometimes doesn’t translate to physical learning and activities children choose to do. This month, our Early Years Workshop focused on “Risky Play” and how we can support and guide children to explore environments freely and confidently, experimenting with activities and how they move, safely.

Thinking back to my childhood, I vividly remember rollerblading down a steep hill near my house which led to a river, mastering how to slow down and turn just in time to avoid a wet and potentially hazardous landing! All without adult supervision as I explored the neighborhood freely with my friends. Of course, there were scrapes and less than graceful landings as I aborted attempts when I knew it might not end so well! But, over time I learned how to do this maneuver successfully.

Risky play does not exclusively take place outdoors though, it can be seen indoors too. Jumping off the bed into a pile of pillows and blankets, trying to help with chopping and cooking in the kitchen, or balancing on a chair to reach up to a shelf for instance. There are examples we see every day inside and out of the home and classroom.

For children, risky play is “thrilling and exciting play where children engage in risk without certainty” (Mariana Brussoni), and has been proven to have immense benefits in cognition and problem-solving. Researchers also argue that, ultimately, learning how to take and manage risks in play also helps children avoid accidents as they are more aware of how to navigate through challenging situations and use their bodies.

Importantly, it is noted that risky play often brings a feeling of pure happiness and enjoyment to children as they explore freely and adventurously! So, whilst it may cause worry and stress for us, children relish the opportunities to experiment with how they play and move. Children are innately curious!

Some common features of risky play to look out for include:

- Height and elevation  

- Speed and momentum  

- Use of risky or adult tools  

- Interaction with natural elements  

- Play with a chance of “getting lost” 

- Rough-and-tumble play 

All children experiment with risky play but how we react as adults can impact their confidence, resilience and ability to problem-solve in the long term.

So, if your child likes to run at full speed down a hill or perhaps they climb onto everything and anything and your instinct is to say ‘be careful’ or to hover nearby ready to jump in to help, then we'd encourage you to pause. It can be very difficult to watch your child play and explore in this way, but it is so important for their development.

As a child, I can think of one injury that I sustained which was a result of risky play. Only one! Of course, there will be grazes, bruises, and scrapes but all children experience these. After a cuddle and a clean-up, you can talk to your child about what happened. “The ground was quite bumpy there and I saw you trip on the tree roots. Maybe we can move more slowly when we run over there and look at where we land with our feet?”

The language that we use has a real impact on a child developing an awareness of the risks around them. Phrases like be careful” or “don’t climb up that high” do not teach children why they might want to be more aware of their actions and surroundings at that moment. Perhaps, more often than we would like to think, comments like these wash over children and they don’t take much notice of them anyway because they are often followed by something along the lines ofwhat did I just tell you would happen?”

Instead, using phrases like “did you notice that those rocks are wet and might be slippery?” or have you tried moving your hand onto that branch for more stability?” will help your child to develop their problem-solving skills and tune in more to their surroundings as they play.

It is also recommended that before saying anything or stepping in, we wait for 15-20 seconds before intervening to see if your child can problem solve and figure out what to do independently when their risky play faces a challenge.

Safety is always a priority, and we should be mindful of the risks which children encounter as they play and explore. However, as parents and teachers, we should be there to guide and encourage children’s play rather than manage and control it

Children need to learn how to identify and manage risks independently. By immersing themselves in opportunities for risky play, and making some mistakes along the way, they will develop skills that will allow them to navigate difficult situations more readily and confidently whilst having a lot of fun along the way!

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