Encountering risks are an inevitable part of the human experience. This is especially true for children who naturally love to chase thrills and take on challenges that test their abilities. When young children pursue any activity that involves a level of uncertainty and potential hurt, they are engaging in ‘risky play’.
At 360 Early Education, we recognise that risky play is a necessary and healthy part of early childhood development. When children are supported to successfully manage risk, they reap the benefits of perseverance, resilience, problem-solving skill and emotional regulation. Risky play also fosters physical development such as spatial awareness, muscle strength, and improved balance and coordination. Let’s not forget the self-confidence and immense joy that comes from children taking on new challenges and expanding their capabilities!
What is Risky Play?
A risk is any challenging opportunity that may result in both positive and negative outcomes. For example, learning to ride a bike is a risk that may involve minor trips and falls, however when well-supervised, a child learns an invaluable skill.
Risks are distinct from hazards. In contrast, hazards are dangers that are highly likely to result in significant harm. Hazards require immediate remedy. They may include broken toys, sharp edges, access to unsafe heights, incorrect storage of chemicals, poor air quality, and even psychological hazards such as conflict.
Each and every play space will have an element of risk, and the possibilities for healthy risk-taking are endless.
Examples of Risky Play
Indoor Risky Play:
- Using cutlery to cut and chop food eg. vegetable peelers
- Using stationery tools when crafting eg. staplers, scissors, hole punchers
- Housework e.g. vacuuming, gardening
- Imaginary play e.g. pretend fighting, chasing, hide and seek
- STEM play e.g. experimenting with gravity, mixing elements
- Caring for pets e.g. petting a cat, grooming a dog, feeding a rabbit
Outdoor Risky Play:
- Nature Play e.g. climbing rocks, swinging from trees, rolling down hills
- Sport e.g. football, skateboarding, cycling
- Gymnastics e.g. tucks, rolls, jumps, swings
- Water Play e.g. jumping in puddles, using water troughs, hosing the garden
- Camping e.g. toasting marshmallows, constructing forts
Socio-Emotional Risky Play:
- Starting a new class
- Making a public speech
- Performing a dance or song
- Joining a new sports team
- Making friends and meeting new people
Risky Play at 360
At 360 Early Education, all early childhood professionals are trained to oversee risky play. When designing the curriculum, they anticipate potential negative outcomes and make deliberate decisions to mitigate risk. This work is especially important for our Beyond the Classroom program where children participate in the local community for experiential learning. On Bush School, we visit local parklands where we encounter native fauna, flora, rocky terrain and waterways. Nature itself comes with many risks! Our teachers must perform site visits and conduct risk assessments prior to each excursion.
In addition to rigorous planning, our educators conduct several lesson plans to train children on safe excursion behaviour. Children learn about walking as a group, road safety, and how to travel on our centre’s minibus. Each child must complete their training program before they venture beyond the classroom.
Inside the service, our early childhood professionals are also tasked with the responsibility of constantly scanning play spaces for potential hazards. 360 play spaces are purpose-built and designed for children to undertake risks in a contained environment under close supervision. However, all play equipment is prone to general wear-and-tear. To keep our services safe and compliant, we keep a register for ongoing maintenance and assign dedicated WHS officers.
What happens if my child gets hurt in an early childhood service?
Minor bumps, bruises and cuts are commonly experienced by children (and adults!) both in the home and in a childcare setting. They are easily treatable, and generally heal quickly. To manage children’s health and safety, all Education and Care Services must comply with National Regulations. These laws cover a range of areas, including, hazard identification, staff arrangements, transportation of children, maintenance of equipment, serious incident management and more!
For minor incidents, families are notified as soon as possible and receive a written record detailing the circumstances. Children will receive basic first aid, as well as emotional support.
In the event a serious incident, injury, trauma, or illness occurs, services are legally obligated to:
- Inform parents and guardians as soon as possible
- Notify the state’s regulatory authority within 24 hours
- Document the incident and keep information confidential
- Follow emergency and evacuation procedures
- Maintain staff’s first aid qualifications
- Ensure there are two witnesses each time medicine is administered
- Develop policies and procedures to minimise incidents
At the same time, ACECQA, the regulatory authority for the early childhood sector, advocates for healthy risk-taking in the early years. They require all services to ensure risky play is a considered feature across all seven quality areas: (1) Educational Program and Practice, (2) Children’s Health and Safety, (3) Physical Environment, (4) Staffing Arrangements, (5) Relationships with Children, (6) Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities, and (7) Governance and Leadership.
Our staff adopt a balanced approach and are well-prepared to incorporate healthy risk-taking into their programs while still allowing for the free, adventurous play that children truly need. At 360, we offer tailored coaching and development to continuously upskill our educators. Our Commitment to Child Safety is central to our service philosophy.
Finally, the enormous growth and development that we see from children that learn how to assess risk and engage in risky play is beyond measure! We can confidently say that the greater risk, is not allowing children to engage in risky play at all.
