08-Adventurous and Challenging: The Benefits of Risky Outdoor Play

In this module, participants will learn about and reflect on adventurous, challenging and risky play. Adventure playgrounds and nature programs offer examples of how environments can support children’s opportunities for adventurous and challenging play that at times can be risky.

In this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Examine the perspectives surrounding the topic of play involving risk.
  2. Reflect on the risky play movement and the current debate around terminology.
  3. Relate the elements of nature to risky play.
  4. Examine the benefits of and reflect on the support for risky play.
  5. Analyze risky play categories, risk benefit assessments and consider ways to help others understand risk.
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Module Includes

  • 7 Lessons
  • 16 Topics
  • 2 Quizzes

Responses

  1. I love this conversation. Risky play used to be a natural part of childhood. So glad that it is something we are incorporating into their play spaces again.

  2. Rock climbing assessment for my age group of 2.5 to 3 years old i would have some concerns with some of my group. May be a rope with knots that is ty to a tree for support and helmets for some with less control. My area has very little risk taking on the playground but a tunnel that the children like to climb up on and jump off. I tell the child if you can climb up by yourself you can jump off. So they run around looking for things to stand on, ways to pull themself up on top and how to balance on their feet to jump off. When they do there great joy on their faces.

  3. This module was really helpful with breaking through my own walls and seeing the true benefits of risky play.

  4. Nancy Penner
    This was vey informational module learned a lot of knowledge about risky play. So I can be more supportive of risky play in our program.

  5. I love risky play. This is where you see how strong is the character of a child and determine his growth and development. Yes, it needs a lot of support and guidance. However, when the child successfully do it and you let him decide for himself while letting him know of the pros and cons of his decision, that child will surely develop fully their self esteem to challenge himself more of his competency.

  6. I enjoyed Learning more about why we allow risky play it gives me more words and i formations to share with my parents

  7. This was a great module, I really like the break down of risky play and how we can support it. I will be adding the risk assessment into my program.