Characteristics of risky play – How do you support risky play in your setting?
The Forest School Association (FSA) are inviting practitioners to email the FSA about how you manage risky play in your setting, or how risky play isn't supported by your setting. According to Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter, there are six categories of risky play. Heights High speed Dangerous tools Dangerous elements [...]
Wildfire warnings Scotland
Do you deliver outdoor education which includes learning about fire outdoors? Keep up to date with wildlife risk in Scotland through Firebreak Scotland. East Ayrshire Council has shared this tips to prevent wildfires in rural and semi-rural areas: Avoid visiting vulnerable areas or those which have recently been subject to [...]
Staying safe from Bloomin’ Algae
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) share information about Bloomin’ Algae, a citizen science app for reporting the presence of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria. The app helps speed up public health warnings about harmful algal blooms and can help teach you how to recognise the risks to you, [...]
Playing and exploring outdoors brings risk – and that’s good for children
This article in The Conversation (14 April 2025) shares research around the benefits of risky play outdoors. The authors note that ‘risky outdoor play needs to be frequent, progressive and to take place throughout a child’s education’ – not one-off outdoor experiences. It also refers to Forest School and residential experiences [...]
Soft spaces out, stick-fighting in
School Outdoor Learning say that ‘kids want spaces that give them opportunities for open-ended, creative play. So often, nature provides and there are times when we can give a helping hand, either way we need to let kids play and take healthy risks.’ They share this Observer article ( 2 [...]
Why kids need to take more risks: science reveals the benefits of wild, free play
Studies reveal how risky play can benefit child development. But encouraging it can be a challenge for parents. Read this article in nature (8 January 2025).
Are our school playgrounds being wrapped in cotton wool?
School Outdoor Learning share the issues around risk-averse school grounds by signposting this earlier article posted in The Conversation (25 June 2015). It celebrates the opportunities provided by loose-parts play.
The importance of risk in childhood play experiences
Read this Play Scotland blog post (7 August 2024) which explores how children grow through the challenge that risky play outdoors offers.
