11 Risky Play
Suggested Reading
Brussoni, M., Gibbons, R., Gray, C., Ishikawa, T., Hansen Sandseter, E. B., Bienenstock, A., …, Tremblay, M. S. (2015). What is the relationship between risky outdoor play and health in children? A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 12, 6423 – 6454. doi:10.3390/ijerph120606423
A systematic review to examine the relationship between risky outdoor play and health in children, in order to inform the debate regarding its benefits and harms. Twenty-one relevant papers were evaluated for quality using the GRADE framework. Included articles addressed the effect on health indicators and behaviours from three types of risky play, as well as risky play supportive environments. The systematic review revealed overall positive effects of risky outdoor play on a variety of health indicators and behaviours, most commonly physical activity, but also social health and behaviours, injuries, and aggression.
Brussoni, M., Olsen, L. L., Pike, I., & Sleet, D. A. (2012). Risky play and children’s safety: Balancing priorities for optimal child development. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 9(9), 3134-3148. doi:10.3390/ijerph9093134
This journal article discusses the importance of risky play as a necessary part of children’s development and supports the need for outdoor risky play to foster healthy development. The article recommends building upon children’s natural tendency towards risky play and advocates that taking risks help children learn to manage risks.
Bundy, A. C., Wyver, S., Beetham, K. S., Ragen, J., Naughton, G., Tranter, P., … Sterman, J. (2015). The Sydney playground project- levelling the playing field: A cluster trial of a primary school-based intervention aiming to promote manageable risk-taking in children with disability. BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health, 15(1125), 1-6. doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2452-4
This journal article discusses how children and adults can provide opportunities to engage in manageable risky play. Discussion identifies ways to change how parents and educators view risk taking and encourage children with disability to take responsibilities for their on actions in outdoor play.
Canadian Public Health Association. (January 24, 2019). Playground injuries: Playground injury statistics. Retrieved on March 12, 2019 from https://www.cpha.ca/playground-injuries
A short article that demystifies media reports about injury trends and playground injuries. The article includes discussion about heights and surfaces, head injuries, and sports related injuries. The article concludes that “despite consistent efforts to make playgrounds safer, injury surveillance data have shown no significant trends in injuries over time.”
Gull, C., Goldstein, S. L., & Rosengarten, T. (2018). Benefits and risks of tree climbing on child development and resiliency. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 5(2), 10-29. Retrieved f