4 minute read
Why Risky Play is Worth the Risk
Joanne Harris
Ironically, the relatively new term ‘Risky Play’ earned its name long ago through the ‘dangerous’ recreational activities children used to indulge in frequently.
Climbing trees, handling tools and exploring local neighbourhoods was common practice for children up until recently when a lot has disappeared with the introduction of technology. As our society has become more risk averse, there is prevailing anxiety about the long-term consequences and potential outcomes, which are unlikely but can occur, including personal injury and liability. When we remove all risk, however, a new danger emerges. Play can become too sanitised, safe and sedentary, affecting children’s wellbeing and independence. Past learnings combined with the rise in anxiety in a postCOVID world have resulted in educators tuning in to what children both want and need. The goal should be to strike a balance that includes risky play elements and activities that challenge the mind. With careful consideration and planning, educators and families can introduce activities that can provide this at little or no cost but have a priceless value.
The power of intuition and the information it provides
Intuition is a skill that is difficult to measure, as it is not the only indicator of what lies ahead when approaching a new situation. Ironically, intuition serves an innate biological function to warn us of danger that, if ignored, we often regret afterwards. To know we are protected from harm can encourage us to leap baby steps to complete the consolidation of a skill or talent. However, the feeling soon shifts from confident to fearful if there are constant reminders of the possible ‘red flags’ inhibiting our potential. Similarly, if we don’t place trust in children and their ability to explore and learn, it can have the opposite effect than what we intend.
Taking care not to impose our fears upon children
When in the company of young children, it naturally reminds us of our early experiences. We may remember the heartache of disappointment, the gravity of fear we felt or the physical pain incurred through an accident or injury. There is a more significant opportunity to create real-time experiences and memories in the present, which encourage trust and respect within the development of children’s emerging sense of agency. It is a rite of passage to pass on wisdom from one generation to the next, but it is also possible to clear emotional space for children to explore safely themselves. When we support them to do so, it instils one of the most important dispositions a child can have - self-belief.
The importance of self-regulation and its link to risk
An action must be taken for learning to occur in young children. When learning to move from crawling to walking, they must overcome many risk elements to meet this milestone and the many more that come afterwards.
When thinking about a child’s joy and satisfaction of mastering this one skill, it becomes clear why it is so important to take the risk and succeed at this stage of physical development and its resulting significance to emotional development. Within hundreds of repetitive attempts at increasing mobility during their early years, mastery by its very nature invites more risk.
Risky Play is not a ‘category’ – it’s what children do instinctively
As children grow and develop, the types of play they are interested in change. Children naturally seek out what is new and novel as their world expands beyond their home base.
Through his research, professional Play Worker and Researcher, Marc Armitage, implores us to understand that risk is intrinsic to successful development. He proposes that ‘all children have an innate desire to touch things’, an ‘evolutionary driver’ essential for survival. In a recent article, Armitage identified the risky play activities that enhance children’s play, including experiencing height, depth, movement, speed, and building and using tools - with development and understanding rooted within the processes followed between ‘known’ and ‘unknown’.
With this knowledge at the forefront, it may help educators turn their focus upon what children want to feel as their measure of knowing what life has to offer.
A good plan is like a road map
Risk is a common component of our lives, but with a plan, it becomes much easier to navigate. Before undertaking a significant change or implementing an element of change to a program, you must know what you want to achieve. Educators can determine the best course of action by discussing potential scenarios or concerns. Completing a risk assessment that includes detailed information and understanding the boundaries and limitations provides the steps and strategies needed to inspire confidence for all. After interviewing children during their play activities, Marc Armitage concluded that what they want and most need is ‘multiple opportunities for challenge...’ and the ‘greatest barrier to risky play is the unwillingness of us adults to take risks ourselves…’
Just as Art Play is now seen as a process rather than product-driven activity, the importance of Risky Play happens when we chart the course of children’s thinking and development. Experiential learning provides meaning and context when children are encouraged to participate collaboratively, guided by words and actions. Ultimately, when focus is directed towards the joy of discovery for children during play, it can help to instil a sense of satisfaction and pride which will govern their attitude towards becoming lifelong learners.
