At Partnerships with Families, we believe in the power of collaboration and support in family units. We provide resources and tools to strengthen family bonds and create lasting connections.

As children grow older, they naturally seek new challenges and are curious and want to explore the world around them. Risky play for children is natural and instinctive and while it can be worrisome or stressful for families and caregivers, risky play is an important part of a child’s healthy development and has any positive outcomes.
Risky play gives children a chance to learn their limits and capabilities and supports their confidence and well-being, When children are given the opportunity for risky play, they have increased confidence, increased problem-solving skills, and increased critical-thinking skills (Dietze & Kashin, 2016, p. 189).
Risky play is beneficial to children but it’s not about putting kids in danger, it’s about providing safe and challenging experiences for the child. This brochure will help you to understand what risky play looks like and why it matters. Instead of eliminating risk for children, we introduce how to help children navigate and judge situations and support their role in making safe choices to let children grow and thrive to their full potential while learning about the world around them. This website will specifically focus on ages 3-5.

Addressing Safety Concerns

Hazards versus risk- There is a difference in risky play between hazards and challenges. Hazards are unseen by children and have the potential for injury which is not apparent to the child. An example of this is a child climbing a tree with a rotten branch- the child doesn’t recognize the possibility of harm of this. A risk is a challenge that the child can assess and manage. An example of this can be a child climbing a tree or a large rock. The adult can assess the environment and ensure there are no outward hazards. The child must learn where to place their hands and feet, figure out how high they are comfortable going, and work on their strength and balance. “Risky play involves children recognizing and evaluating the challenge and deciding on the course of action that they will take” (Dietze & Kashin, 2019, p.135)

Active supervision- Parents or guardians can actively supervise risky play to allow children to take risks but ensure their safety. Some tips for active supervision include:
-Pay attention: focus on the child
-Stay close enough to intervene if necessary but try and give the child space to figure things out for themselves
-Encourage problem solving- Ask open-ended and guiding questions. Ex: “How can you make sure that log is steady?” or “I see that you want to climb that tree, how can we make sure the branches are strong enough?”

Assessing the environment and risk assessment- Parents should assess any new environment before the child explores and plays.
-Scan the area for hazards (broken play equipment, sharp objects, etc.
-Remove any hidden dangers from objects or situations.
-Look for areas that children may want to explore, jump, or climb and assess if there are any hazards there.
-Try to match the level or risk with the child’s abilities

What is risky play in this age group?

What are some examples of adventurous play?
Adventurous play: “children being adventurous by taking opportunities to explore and test their own capacities, to manage risk, and to grow in their capacity, resourcefulness, and resilience. Can be risky but not necessarily hazardous” (Dietze & Kashin, 2019, p.134)
-Rough and tumble: play fighting, wrestling, roughhousing
-Play at high speed- bicycling, running, sledding
-Play with heights- Climbing, jumping, balancing, hanging, swinging
-Play with tools- hammers, knives, ropes
-Nature play- play near or in water, cliffs, exploring new areas
All of these are example of risky play that is intended to be actively supervised by an adult but that provide great developmental opportunities.

Why is risky play important:

-Teaches practical skills
-Builds character and personality
-Satisfies intuitive needs for risk-taking
-Has health and developmental benefits
(Dietze & Kashin, 2019, p.136)