Risky play is a trend making its way across the country, but it sounds dangerous. Why would educators embrace this teaching practice with such enthusiasm? There are many reasons. Risky play is beneficial for the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of children and can contribute to their success in school and beyond.
Risky play is unstructured play opportunities which allow for children to take safe, appropriate risks to gain confidence and strength while acquiring the skills to regulate the big emotions that come with stepping out of their comfort zones. There are seven types of risky play: great heights, speed, tools, rough-and-tumble, disappearing, play with impact, and vicarious play. Most children are innately drawn to engage in all types of risky play; however, exploring heights is the most frequently observed form. Children who engage in risky play understand that challenges, or mistakes, are opportunities; understand that success depends on effort; adapt well in the face of adversity; and are aware of their personal abilities and limitations.
Providing an environment absent of hazards and yet rich with opportunities for children to engage in risky play allows for them to use large and small muscles required not only for healthy muscle development, but also for the physical development needed to for pre-reading skills. Additionally, risky play offers children space and time to grapple with social and emotional risks with peers to reduce their conflict sensitivity and increase their self-esteem. Risky play often incorporates the use of loose parts or materials without an intended purpose such as sticks, pipes, and tires. These materials lend themselves well to transform along with a child’s imagination and is, in essence, innovative play as they are used in new and creative ways.
