Logo image
Back
Can Risky Play Be Safe? Educator Perspectives on Supporting Outdoor Risky Play in Early Childhood Education
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Can Risky Play Be Safe? Educator Perspectives on Supporting Outdoor Risky Play in Early Childhood Education

Nilufar Jahan and Mahmuda Shaila Banu
New Zealand international research in early childhood education, Vol.28(1), pp.94-108
11/10/2026
Appears in  Recent Faculty of Education Publications

Metrics

1 File views/ downloads
1 Record Views

Abstract

Risky play safety outdoor play outdoor environment risk-taking Early childhood education Early childhood education
Outdoor risky play (ORP) provides important opportunities for young children to test their limits and support physical, cognitive and socio-emotional development. Despite these benefits, heightened safety concerns and risk-management practices among parents and institutions often restrict children's opportunities for challenging outdoor play in early childhood settings. This systematic review examines educators' perceptions and strategies for supporting ORP in Australia. Drawing on 11 peer-reviewed studies published over the past decade, the review employed reflexive thematic analysis informed by Sandseter's risky play framework. The findings indicate that educators conceptualise ORP as a form of holistic learning and emphasise the intentional design of outdoor environments to facilitate children's engagement with challenges, uncertainty and risks. At the same time, educators are required to mediate children's autonomy alongside safety responsibilities, often within the constraints of regulatory expectations and parental safety concerns. The review indicates that intentional design of the outdoor environment, educator professional development and parent engagement can support ORP. Supervision and risk–benefit assessment can further manage harmful risk while preserving appropriate risk-taking. Finally, this study proposes a practice framework facilitating ORP in early childhood education, shifting from a protection-oriented perspective toward a model of balanced risk.

Details

Logo image