Churchich Recreation Blog

When we see children on the playground climbing over rocks, scrambling up slides, and roughhousing with their friends, our first instinct might be to intervene. However, these seemingly risky activities are fundamental to healthy child development.

“Outdoor play includes running and moving vigorously, climbing on equipment, and navigating uneven terrain. It also includes boisterous large motor activities like tag, tumbling, and pretend fighting,” says the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). “The benefits of outdoor play aren’t just physical. It also allows children to challenge themselves and become appraisers of risk. This, in turn, helps develop cognitive, social and emotional, and self-regulatory skills.”

Acceptable risks in play, sometimes called “risky play”, are essential for children’s development.

“As they jump over equipment, and chase each other, children learn to assess risk, devise a plan, and take action,” explains NAEYC. “They make decisions and problem-solve when they face a challenging moment. They also learn to process and navigate their feelings and emotions. These actions build resilience as children experience success or challenges.”

The key lies in understanding the difference between manageable risk and unnecessary danger— and how thoughtful playground design can provide the perfect balance.

Understanding Risky Play

Risky play refers to activities that involve uncertainty, physical challenge, and the possibility of minor injury.

This doesn't mean dangerous play that could cause serious harm, but rather age-appropriate challenges that push children just beyond their comfort zones. Research consistently shows that children actively seek out these experiences because they fulfill crucial developmental needs.

When children engage in risky play, they're not being reckless—they're responding to an innate drive to test their limits, build confidence, and develop essential life skills. This type of play has been a cornerstone of childhood development throughout human history, yet modern safety concerns have sometimes led us to eliminate these valuable experiences entirely.

“Opportunities to engage in outdoor free play—and risky play in particular—have declined significantly in recent years, in part because safety measures have sought to prevent all play-related injuries rather than focusing on serious and fatal injuries,” says the Canadian Paediatric Society. “Proponents of risky play differentiate ‘risk’ from ‘hazard’ and seek to reframe perceived risk as an opportunity for situational evaluation and personal development.”

The Developmental Benefits of Managed Risk

Risky play can help children in their physical development, emotional and social growth, and cognitive development:

Physical Development: Risky play provides unparalleled opportunities for physical growth and skill development:

• Enhanced motor skills: Climbing, balancing, and navigating challenging terrain improves coordination, strength, and spatial awareness.
• Better risk assessment: Children learn to evaluate their own physical capabilities and make informed decisions about what they can safely attempt.
• Improved proprioception (body’s ability to sense its own position and movement): Understanding where their body is in space helps children move more confidently and avoid accidents.
• Increased physical fitness: Challenging play naturally encourages more vigorous physical activity than traditional, safe playground equipment.

Emotional and Social Growth: The psychological benefits of risky play are equally significant:

• Confidence building: Successfully overcoming challenges builds self-esteem and teaches children to trust their abilities.
• Emotional regulation: Managing fear and excitement during risky play helps children develop coping strategies for stressful situations.
• Resilience: Learning to recover from minor setbacks or failures builds emotional strength and perseverance.
• Independence: Making decisions about risk encourages autonomy and self-reliance.

Cognitive Development: Risky play also stimulates intellectual growth:

• Problem-solving skills: Children must think creatively to navigate challenges and overcome obstacles.
• Risk assessment abilities: Regular exposure to manageable risks helps children develop better judgment about what is truly dangerous.
• Decision-making: Weighing potential outcomes teaches children to make thoughtful choices.
• Focus and concentration: Challenging activities require sustained attention and mental engagement.

The Cost of Over-Protection

While keeping children safe on the playground is a priority, eliminating all risk from play environments can have unintended consequences.

“Injury prevention plays a key role in keeping children safe, but emerging research suggests that imposing too many restrictions on children’s outdoor risky play hinders their development,” says a research paper in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Overprotected children may struggle with anxiety when faced with new challenges, lack confidence in their physical abilities, and miss opportunities to develop crucial risk assessment skills.

Studies have shown that children who don't experience manageable risks during play are more likely to take dangerous risks later in life because they haven't learned to properly evaluate potential consequences.

Additionally, overly safe playgrounds often fail to engage children, leading to sedentary behavior and missed opportunities for physical development.

Designing for Appropriate Risk

Creating playgrounds that incorporate manageable risks requires careful planning and expertise. The goal is to provide challenges that are exciting and developmentally beneficial while maintaining appropriate safety standards.

Effective risk-inclusive playground design considers several important factors:

• Age-appropriate challenges: Different age groups require different types and levels of risk to support their developmental stage.
• Progressive difficulty: Equipment should offer multiple ways to engage, allowing children to gradually increase challenge levels as they grow more confident.
• Natural materials: Incorporating elements like logs, boulders, and varied terrain provides authentic risk experiences.
• Sight lines: Design should allow for appropriate supervision while not eliminating children's sense of independence.

Examples of Appropriate Risky Play Elements

Well-designed playgrounds can incorporate various elements that provide beneficial risk:

• Varied heights: Climbing structures of different elevations allow children to choose their comfort level.
• Challenging terrain: Uneven surfaces, small hills, and natural obstacles encourage careful navigation.
• Balance elements: Logs, stepping stones, and narrow beams develop coordination and confidence.
• Natural loose parts: Sticks, stones, and other materials allow for creative, self-directed risky play.

Safety Standards and Risk Management

Incorporating risk into playground design doesn't mean abandoning safety standards.

Professional designers work within established safety guidelines while creating opportunities for appropriate challenge and risk-taking.

Modern playground safety focuses on eliminating hazards — unexpected dangers that children cannot reasonably foresee — while preserving manageable risks that children can evaluate and navigate.

This approach requires expertise in child development, safety regulations, and innovative design techniques.

Regular maintenance and ongoing risk assessment ensure that playground equipment continues to provide appropriate challenges without creating unnecessary dangers. Professional designers also consider factors like supervision requirements, community needs, and local safety regulations.

Creating Memorable Play Experiences

When playgrounds successfully balance safety with appropriate risk, they create the kind of memorable experiences that children treasure. These environments become places where children want to spend time, where they're motivated to be active, and where they can grow both physically and emotionally.

Creating play environments that successfully balance risk and safety requires specialized knowledge and experience. At Churchich Recreation and Design, we understand the delicate balance between providing exciting, developmentally beneficial challenges and maintaining appropriate safety standards.

Contact Churchich today to discuss how we can help your community design a playground with the appropriate amount of risk to help your children grow physically, emotionally, and cognitively.