As safe as necessary : Risky play for children

“Risky play” has recently come to the forefront of many educational and medical models. At its core, risky play is any thrilling or exciting form of play involving uncertain outcomes or where there is a possibility of physical injury. 

Free play is essential to children’s development and their physical, mental, and social health. Unstructured, independent play (especially outdoors) can help prevent and manage obesity, anxiety, and behavioural problems. An element of risk in play lets children develop confidence and trust in their own limits and abilities.

Common types of risky play and examples are listed below. Activities in each category can vary widely, depending on the child’s developmental stage, past experiences, and personality.

Risk or Hazard? Know the difference

It is normal to want to protect your child and shield them from injury and pain, and it’s important to know that you can allow risky play and keep your child safe.

A risk is when a child can recognize a challenge and decide what to do based on their own comfort and skill-level (e.g., how high to climb on a playground structure or how fast to run down a hill). Risky play gives children the space and independence to make and learn from these judgements for themselves.

Hazards are those situations where a child would not be able to recognize or manage the potential for injury (e.g., a rotten tree branch that can’t support their weight, or damaged playground equipment). Before allowing free outdoor play, hazards should be removed or mitigated. Some situations, such as play in rough waters or along busy roadways, are inherently hazardous and should be avoided.

You know your child best, so should determine how much independence to give your child based on their abilities and personality. Always be ready to intervene when a child’s play becomes a danger to themselves or others.

Risky play does not refer to ignoring evidence-based safety measures, like using helmets, car-seats, stair safety gates and life-jackets.

Risks can look different for every child

Because everyone has a different comfort level with risks, a different set of life experiences and different skill-sets and strengths, risky play can look different for each child – even for kids the same age. Let’s take the example of playing at height (or climbing). For 3 different kids, this could involve:

• A toddler climbing and jumping from a chair,
• An older child who feels confident in their motor and physical skills climbing a tree, several branches above the ground, or
• A child of similar age but with a different temperament, experience, and skill level climbing a small tree or stopping just a few branches above ground.

All the children in this example are engaged in risky play because they feel excited, thrilled, and challenged by their chosen activity.

Choose your words wisely

“Be careful, slow down, not too high!” Although said with love and concern, these phrases can make a child sense danger where there is none, and over time can make them doubt their own abilities. To focus a child on a particular situation and help them problem-solve, consider phrases such as:

• Do you feel … stable on that log of wood / the heat of that fire?
• Do you see … your friends nearby / how high you are?
• Notice how … these rocks are slippery / sharp this tool is.
• Are you feeling … scared / excited / safe?
• What’s your plan … if you jump on that boulder / dig that hole?
• How will you … get down / go up / get across?