Risk play plays a crucial role in a child's development, offering opportunities to gain important life skills and test their boundaries in a secure and managed setting. However, in many nations including the UK, a growing trend of caution has led to a reduction in opportunities for children to engage in risky play.
In comparison, Germany has a more positive approach to risk play, offering specialised play parks which allow children to participate in activities that challenge them, such as climbing tall structures, exploring tunnels and swinging from ropes. This type of play not only improves physical abilities but helps children to develop skills such as confidence, toughness and risk management.
Despite the benefits, concerns about health and safety, along with the fear of legal action, have caused a decline in risk play opportunities in the UK. It's important to remember that when children are given the chance to experience risk play in a managed environment, the benefits to their growth and development are substantial.
As noted by Prof Rolf Schwarz of Karlsruhe University of Education in an article by The Guardian, "Playgrounds are islands of free movement in a dangerous motorised environment. If we want children to be prepared for risk, we need to allow them to come into contact with risk."
Best Buds Forest School recognises the importance of risk play in child development and works to carefully design opportunities for risk play in their sessions. Safety is the top priority, and every activity is thoroughly risk assessed to ensure children are protected. Despite this, the school strives to encourage children to take calculated risks as part of their sessions, providing them with the chance to test their limits and develop valuable skills.
In order to maximise the advantages of risk play, it's crucial to provide children with suitable and safe opportunities to engage in this type of play. This might involve the creation of more specialised play parks, or simply encouraging children to explore local parks and natural spaces.
Source: The Guardian, "Why Germany is building risk into its playgrounds," October 24, 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/24/why-germany-is-building-risk-into-its-playgrounds
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