Nursery World - Nursery Equipment: Physical Development

Embracing risky play gives children the chance to push themselves to their limits, with physical, emotional and educational benefits, explains Annette Rawstrone

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Think of how you feel when you have pushed yourself to take a risk and achieved something. It’s exhilarating and brings a sense of pride, often accompanied with the motivation to try and do more. The urge to physically challenge ourselves and take risks is inbuilt, with even very young children doing this as they pull themselves up against furniture or take their first steps.

Risky play is defined by Ellen Sandseter, professor at Queen Maud University’s College of Early Childhood Education in Trondheim, Norway, as thrilling and challenging forms of play that involve a risk of injury. She describes how children engage in this type of play in six categories:

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