Blue Sky Day Nursery
The Risks of Play
What is Risky Play
Risky play develops a child’s self-confidence, when they fail at climbing something or succeeding and work on trying again it gives them a higher sense of achievement Risky play is not about doing something dangerous, but about moving past uncertainty to try something exciting.
These can be anything from simple activities just as spinning around and feeling dizzy, playing hide and seek and having the rush of feeling “worried” about being found. To then the more extreme risks such as climbing, running, using tools or activities with fire.
There are 8 types of risky play.
Rough & Tumble
Experiencing rigorous physical exercise with other children.
Examples are:
-
Play fighting
-
Chasing
-
Tumbling
-
Kicking balls
Perilous Element
Learning skills, and feeling a sense of independence.
Examples are:
-
Swimming in the deep end
-
Roasting a marshmallow over a open flame
-
Crossing a bridge
High Speed
Experiencing the thrill of speed.
Examples are:
-
Running down hills
-
Swinging on swings
-
Riding bikes and other wheeled equipment
Impact in Play
Crashing into something for fun.
Examples are:
-
Jumping on mattresses
-
Belly flops into the pool
Great Hight
Feeling a sense of achievement and experiencing great views.
Examples are:
-
Balancing on objects that appear to be high up
-
Climbing frames
Getting Lost
The feel of temporary separation without real risks.
Examples are:
-
Playing hide and seek
-
Going out into wooded areas
-
Building hideouts
Dangerous Tools
Being trusted to be in control of something dangerous.
Examples are:
-
Using tools to in a demonstrative way
-
Loose parts
-
Supervised construction
Vicarious Play
Getting a thrill watching others engage in risk.
Examples are:
-
Watching other children play in risky ways
-
Watching adults use tools and equipment
Benefits of Risky Play
Emotional Foundations
Risky play provides the foundation needed to regulate emotional responses like fear, nervousness, or anger in adulthood.
Physical Literacy
Risky play activities that are part of a child’s active play help to make them more physically literate.
Muscle
Skills
Children who engage in active risky play develop their large muscle skills, begin to understand how their bodies move, and learn how fun active play can be!
Braving New Ideas
Children who engage in risky play develop skills to handle the feelings of nervousness and fear that can come with trying new things.
Deal With Change
Risky play gives children the skills they need to adapt to new situations and explore new environments—skills that become even more important when they go to school.
Building
Self-esteem
Risky play has a big part in building Childrens self-esteem, through the sense of achievement
Resilience & Wellbeing
Adventurous play is beneficial for children and will increase resilience and improved wellbeing.
Gaining Confidence
When a child tries something risky, they gain the confidence to say, “I can do this!” and try more things on their own.
Taking
Chances
Children who engage in risky play are more likely to take chances where there is a chance of failure. Even if they fall, they know they can get back up and try again.
What are the Effects that Language Has
Instead of telling your child not to climb so high or run so fast while observing them at play, take a moment — or, as Brussoni advises, 17 seconds. Step back and see how your child is reacting to the situation so that you can actually get a better sense of what they’re capable of when you’re not getting in the way.
This will provide them with the opportunity to figure out for themselves what’s comfortable and what they can do, while allowing them to develop those all-important risk-management skills.
Risk Assessment at
Blue Sky
ANXIOUS ADULTS CREATE ANXIOUS CHILDREN
We at Blue Sky are here to support all our parents and children in any way we can.
We allow the children to engage in Risky play in our settings and ensure that our staff are equipped to monitor and act in the case of an accident.
Every activity is risk assessed by a staff member beforehand, which allows for staff to identify risks of an activity and find ways to mitigate them.