Risky Play

Children approach the world around them through play. This morning the children were doing just that. I noticed that they were jumping off of the play structure, running up and down the slides and manipulating their bodies around the play structure. I observed the children to see how they were responding to these tasks.

According to Michael Apter (2007) it is part of children’s nature to be curious about themselves and their surroundings, to discover what is safe and what is not, to try out risky activities and through this improve their perception of risk and their mastery of risky situations.

He also outlines a few benefits of risk taking in children's play:
                  - Children learn risk assessment and how to master risk situations and thus develop a sound sense of risk.
                  - Children progressively encounter risky play and seek out thrills in a gradual manner, which allows them to master the challenges.
                   - Through challenging play, especially play in wild nature areas, children show improved motor skills and spatial skills; they also learn risk assessment and how to master risk situations.

Here are some pictures of our morning kinders taking some risks in their play!

Source: Apter, M.J. (2007) Danger: our quest for excitement. Oxford: Oneworld.