Risk articles

Worth the risk: Outdoor education offers beneficial risks for all

Looking at the concepts of risk management and safety, risk tolerance & risk appetite, before introducing a new book on Beneficial Risk, and some of its content. Children & Nature Network (US), October 2021.

Forest School Risk Assessment

This thoughtful blog post considers the risks of summer sunshine and the importance of appropriate clothes, then goes on to look at risk assessments in the time of Covid, finally sharing the Risk Assessment document used at Chartham Primary School Forest School in Kent. Mama Beech, 13 August 2020.

Risky Play: why kids need it

Informative article looking at risky play, hazards, unstructured play and listing 10 categories of risky play including play with height, speed, tools, rough & tumble, etc. Plus useful links & resources. Megan Zeni (Canada), December 2019.

Risky Play With Height: Life Lessons Last A Lifetime

Risks & benefits of play with height, and common supervisory issues. Megan Zeni.

Risky Play: Getting Lost & Found In The Fog

Examination of the risks & benefits of risky play where children can disappear or get lost, including getting lost and found in the fog. Plus how this can relate to the maths & science curriculum. Megan Zeni.

Risky Play With Tools In Schools

Looking at risky play with dangerous tools at home and at school, with examples including carving pumpkins, whittling and playing with hammers and nails. Benefits, including to fine motor skills. Megan Zeni.

'We're cosseting our kids' – the war against today's dangerously dull playgrounds

'Architects are taking issue with risk-averse playparks full of sluggish roundabouts and tiny climbing frames. But are playgrounds in the middle of roads really the answer?' Includes an interview with the architect of the pirate ship Diana Memorial playground. 31 October 2019.

The Guarantees of Risky Play

Thorough article quoting various research. “… keeping kids safe means letting them take risks. Many experts say that outdoor play, in fact, risky play, is a necessary element of childhood.” Childhood by Nature (US), 6 May 2019.

15 Reasons to Climb a Tree and other Benefits of Risky Play

15 reason to climb a tree. Instructions & safety for tree climbing & how to support your children as they learn. Benefits of climbing trees and other risky play. Rhythms of Play (US), 14 May 2019, updated August 2022.

Parents - stop worrying and let your children climb trees!

Opinion piece that includes refs to research from University of Phoenix and the UK, about risks and benefits of taking them. Rain or Shine Mamma (US), 16 March 2019.

21 Benefits Of Risky Play (With Examples) & 25 Examples Of Risky Play

Two thorough & informative articles, with lots of examples. “Children that engage in risky play become more confident, happy, and more ‘well-rounded’. Good luck with the risky play!” Early Impact, 2019.

Utah’s Free-Range Parenting Law is Government Overreach

“It’s great to make sure kids can play independently, but nothing was stopping Utah parents from doing just that. Is this Helicopter Governing?” Fatherly (US), 30 March 2018.

Life is fraught with danger. School playgrounds should be too

Opinion piece about the importance of risk in school playgrounds, from Tom Bennett, teacher & independent adviser to the Department for Education. The Guardian, 14 March 2018.

Do riskier playgrounds make children more resilient?

Arguing that introducing element of risk to playgrounds helps make children more resilient. CTV News (Canada), 12 March 2018.

Playgrounds become more dangerous, to encourage youngsters to take risks

‘Children’s playgrounds are becoming more dangerous, to encourage youngsters to take risks, following decades of safety-first policies.’ This article cites some examples of ‘intentionally provided’ risk. The Telegraph, 11 March 2018.

In Britain’s Playgrounds, ‘Bringing in Risk’ to Build Resilience

Excellent extended article looking at the positives of risky play, projects that are re-introducing risk into playgrounds in the UK, and the rise and fall of protecting children from risk. New York Times, 10 March 2018.

Why kids need to climb trees

‘A London council’s proposal to fine kids £500 for climbing trees sparks debate over children’s rights to freedom of movement and why adults think they can block it’ – also considers risk and helicopter parenting. Treehugger (US), 21 February 2018.

Introduce risky play into your kid’s life

‘Parents are told kids need an element of risk, but how does one actually go about doing that?’ Encouraging article with ‘a list of practical suggestions for adding elements of risk to play,’ sectioned into starting out, getting more comfortable, and as they get older. Treehugger (US), 6 February 2018.

Can we stop treating kids like ‘delicate morons’?

Opinion piece: ‘Kids aren’t stupid, nor will they shatter, but most school playground rules treat them like they are.’ Treehugger (US), 18 January 2018.

Risk in play & learning

An excellent infographic summary of the importance of risk & risk taking opportunities. 'Risk is essential for health & wellbeing', and a look at the concept of 'as safe as necessary'. Massive list of research & references. International School Grounds Alliance, 2017.

The Dying Art of Tree Climbing

Article considering the risks and benefits of tree climbing, and offering some tips for supporting your child to climb trees safely. Childhood by Nature (US), c2017.

Risky business: Standard opens door to new playground opportunities

‘Can there be such a thing as keeping children ‘too safe’? Absolutely – and councils shouldn’t be scared to play their part by introducing a little risk into playgrounds.’ IPWEA (Aus), 11 December 2017.

Parents, Say “Yes” to Kids Climbing Up the Slide: Here Are 7 Reasons Why

Building strength, promoting risky play, resolving conflict and more reasons why climbing up is just as good as sliding down. Mike Prochaska, 30 Seconds, November 2017.

If you don’t let children take risks, you are damaging them

Children must learn courage or they will always be afraid. Blog post on helicopter parenting & the importance of risky play, referencing some interesting stats and reports. The Spectator, 28 October 2017.

No more ‘cotton wool kids’: New Standard gives councils license to provide risky playgrounds

‘It may seem contrary to conventional wisdom, but councils are being encouraged to introduce risk into their community playgrounds.’ IPWEA (Aus), 17 October 2017.

In Defense Of Climbing Trees And Other Risky Play

"The biggest danger for our kids isn’t the tall trees they climb or the rough way they play with each other. It’s us. It’s parents. We are the biggest risk to our kids." Scary Mommy (US), 8 May 2017, updated June 2019.

Why kids need risk, fear and excitement in play

Canadian researcher Mariana Brussoni discusses risky play and parents worries, citing useful research, and offers some advice for introducing risky play. The Conversation, 1 August 2017.

When you want to say ‘be careful’

‘Some ideas about what we might say instead of (or in addition to) “Be Careful!”, organized according to Ellen Sandseter’s 6 categories of risky play:’ Play with Great Heights, with Great Speeds, with Harmful Tools, near Dangerous Elements, Rough and Tumble Play, and Play where children can “disappear”/get lost. Child & Nature Alliance of Canada, 22 June 2017.

Risk and challenge is a key form of learning

'Outdoor learning and play offer huge benefits and the hazards can be mitigated, so it’s time to replace endless health-and-safety forms with more progressive policies.' Matt Robinson, Scotland Director, Learning through Landscapes, 25 October 2016.

Why learning to recognise and manage risk is valuable part of childhood learning

Health & Safety, and the precedents and benefits of risk. Matt Robinson, Scotland Director, Learning through Landscapes, 17 August 2016.

Risk - when less can mean more

'‘Health and Safety’ is supporting us being outside more, engaging with risk and challenge as a positive thing - and reducing the paperwork at the same time. Less really does mean more time outside.' Matt Robinson, Scotland Director, Learning through Landscapes, 29 April 2016.

Coping with risk and danger should be part of curriculum – HSE chair

Dame Judith Hackitt says ‘excessively risk-averse’ culture in schools is stifling children’s readiness for the real world. The Guardian, 27 March 2016.

Dangers of risk-averse childhood

“The Care Inspectorate says being too cautious about what children can and cannot do can unnecessarily restrict their experiences, and has advised teachers that they should not compile time-consuming written risk assessments for everyday activities…” Leader in The Scotsman, 6 February 2016.

Banning cartwheels: What’s the point of recess with no fun?

Blog post on a school in Toronto banning cartwheels at playtime, with wider thoughts on children and risk. The Globe and Mail (Canada), published 22 October 2015, updated 15 May 2018.

Risk is essential to childhood – as are scrapes, grazes, falls and panic

‘Children need to be exposed to risky play. For ‘helicopter parents’, this might be difficult – but kids need to learn to manage danger themselves.’ The Guardian, 14 October 2015.

Risky outdoor play positively impacts children’s health: UBC study

The research by Mariana Brussoni 'shows that risky outdoor play is not only good for children’s health but also encourages creativity, social skills and resilience.' University of British Columbia (CAN), 9 June 2015.

A Vote in Favor of the Free Range Kids Movement – and How to Give It a Try

The advantages of unstructured, unsupervised play, and some tips for offering children some independence. Kids Outdoors, 12 May 2015.

The risks of not letting children play outside

‘There’s growing evidence that unsupervised outdoor play is vital for children’s development and connection to nature. There’s also evidence that children today spend much less time outdoors than their parents did.’ SBS News (Aus), 5 October 2014.

Risky Play: Why Children Love It and Need It

'To protect our children, we must allow them to play in ways deemed "risky."
Looking at the 6 categories of risky play, the evolutionary value of risky play, the harmful consequences of play deprivation, risk of sports injuries and more. Peter Gray, Psychology Today, 7 April 2014.

The Overprotected Kid

A preoccupation with safety has stripped childhood of independence, risk taking, and discovery—without making it safer. A new kind of playground points to a better solution. Very good, lengthy article looking at The Land, an adventure playground in North Wales, risky play, the accidents and litigation that informed non-risk play policies, fear of danger, and more. The Atlantic (US), April 2014.

Why stopping children from climbing trees and playing in mud is creating a nation of ‘cotton wool kids’

‘The worrying trend emerges in a poll of 1000 UK mothers with children aged between 7 and 12, which also looks at its impact in a 2013 White Paper ‘Emotional Resilience among Children’.’ Mail Online, 29 July 2013.

But… Isn’t It Dangerous? Risk & Reward in Nature Play

Useful & referenced article looking at the concept of comparative risk, the importance of risk, and how nature play can play a part. River Habitat web archive, 17 July 2012.

Playgrounds that rip up the safety rules

‘This post has a simple aim: to get you to rethink playground safety. Through a handful of images of playgrounds from around the world, I hope to encourage you to abandon any preconceived notions you may have about what a safe playground looks like.’ Rethinking Childhood, March 7, 2012.