Table 3.
Risky play children wish for in schools
| Risky Play (RP) Type | Risk element | Play affordances | Example activities in schools | RP children enjoyed or desired | RP observed in school playgrounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.GREAT HEIGHTS | Danger of injury from falling | Climbing, jumping, balancing, swinging, hanging |
Tree climbing Climbing equipment (e.g. monkey bars, climbing walls, low/high ropes course), Climbing non-play structures (e.g. fences, stairs) Stilts |
[33, 85–88, 93–95, 99, 100, 103, 106, 110, 112] | [89, 110, 112] |
| 2.HIGH SPEED | Uncontrolled speed and pace that can lead to a collision with something (or someone) | Running, swinging, sliding, sledding, cycling, skating, kicking, throwing, catching |
Tag, British bulldogs, and other chasing games Scooters, skates, skateboards, bikes Swings, slides, slippery dip, flying fox, spinner Fast ball games like football, soccer, basketball (where child-led with rules adapted by children to play environment) |
[33, 85–87, 90, 93–96, 99, 103, 104, 109–111] | [91, 96, 101, 106, 107, 110, 112, 113] |
| 3.ROUGH AND TUMBLE | Children may harm themselves or each other |
Play-fighting e.g. wrestling, fencing, Running and throwing (e.g. tagging with balls) Running and catching/ holding |
Play-fighting, super-hero play, sword-fighting (with sticks), conkers Snow fights Ball-tag games (dodgeball, brandi, skobolti) Catch and contain games (fire-catch) |
[33, 85, 87, 93, 94, 96, 97, 99, 101, 104, 106, 110, 112] | [89, 92, 96, 101, 105–107, 112] |
| 4.DISAPPEAR OR GET LOST | Children are unsupervised, alone | Hiding, getting lost and found again |
Hide and seek and other play in unsupervised or ‘out of bounds’ areas Playing in tree houses, bushes, trees, dens Mazes, tunnels |
[32, 33, 86, 93, 97, 99, 100, 102, 109–111] | [88] |
| 5.DANGEROUS TOOLS | Potential for injuries or wounds | Cutting, whittling, sawing, drilling, tying |
Building dens with tools like hammers and saws Playing with (skipping) ropes in ways other than intended e.g. to make swings or tie children up in chase and catch games |
[90, 105, 106] | |
| 6.DANGEROUS ELEMENTS | Risk of injury from falling into or from something | Sledding, sliding, skating |
Playing near fire, deep water, frozen water, steep hills Sliding down snowbanks or on ice |
[86, 104, 109, 110, 112] | [89, 112, 113] |
| 7.PLAY WITH IMPACT | Risk of injury through impact | Running, pushing, pulling |
Games that involve crashing and colliding Pushing and shoving in play (e.g., games like ‘hill’) |
[94, 101, 110] | [101, 112] |
| 8.LOOSE PARTS | Danger of injury from sharp or heavy objects. Use of dirty objects | Lifting, carrying, pulling, balancing, climbing |
Den building in natural environments Loose parts play with re-purposed materials such as tyres, timber, milk crates, tarps |
[33, 100, 110] | |
| 9.MESSY PLAY | Danger of illness from unsanitary or cold environments | Digging, jumping, splashing, throwing, running, sliding |
Sand pit, foam pit Water play, muddy puddle play, digging in dirt and gardens, snow and ice play |
[85, 88, 93, 109, 110] | [89, 110, 113] |
| 10.BODY PLAY | Children may harm themselves or each other by falling or colliding | Body inversion, tumbling, balancing, bouncing, pulling |
Gymnastics-like activities e.g. cartwheels, somersaults, handstands Dance Trampolines, tumble bars Tug of war |
[33, 86, 93–95, 99, 100] | [89, 106, 113] |