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Risky Play and Children’s Safety: Balancing Priorities for Optimal Child Development

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  • Mariana Brussoni

    (Department of Pediatrics, School of Population and Public Health, British Columbia Injury Research and Prevention Unit, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, British Columbia Children’s Hospital, L408-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, V6H 3V4 BC, Canada)

  • Lise L. Olsen

    (British Columbia Injury Research and Prevention Unit, Child and Family Research Institute, L408-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, V6H 3V4 BC, Canada)

  • Ian Pike

    (Department of Pediatrics, British Columbia Injury Research and Prevention Unit, Child and Family Research Institute University of British Columbia, British Columbia Children’s Hospital, L408-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, V6H 3V4 BC, Canada)

  • David A. Sleet

    (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 4770 Buford Highway NE F-62, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA)

Abstract

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. We explore the relationship between child development, play, and conceptions of risk taking with the aim of informing child injury prevention. Generational trends indicate children’s diminishing engagement in outdoor play is influenced by parental and societal concerns. We outline the importance of play as a necessary ingredient for healthy child development and review the evidence for arguments supporting the need for outdoor risky play, including: (1) children have a natural propensity towards risky play; and, (2) keeping children safe involves letting them take and manage risks. Literature from many disciplines supports the notion that safety efforts should be balanced with opportunities for child development through outdoor risky play. New avenues for investigation and action are emerging seeking optimal strategies for keeping children “as safe as necessary,” not “as safe as possible.” This paradigm shift represents a potential for epistemological growth as well as cross-disciplinary collaboration to foster optimal child development while preserving children’s safety.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariana Brussoni & Lise L. Olsen & Ian Pike & David A. Sleet, 2012. "Risky Play and Children’s Safety: Balancing Priorities for Optimal Child Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:9:p:3134-3148:d:19782
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi & Jeremy Hunter, 2003. "Happiness in Everyday Life: The Uses of Experience Sampling," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 185-199, June.
    2. repec:mpr:mprres:4373 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Mariana Brussoni & Rebecca Gibbons & Casey Gray & Takuro Ishikawa & Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter & Adam Bienenstock & Guylaine Chabot & Pamela Fuselli & Susan Herrington & Ian Janssen & William Picket, 2015. "What is the Relationship between Risky Outdoor Play and Health in Children? A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-32, June.
    2. Oliver, Brooke E. & Nesbit, Rachel J. & McCloy, Rachel & Harvey, Kate & Dodd, Helen F., 2023. "Adventurous play for a healthy childhood: Facilitators and barriers identified by parents in Britain," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    3. David A. Sleet, 2018. "The Global Challenge of Child Injury Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-7, September.
    4. Charlotte Jelleyman & Julia McPhee & Mariana Brussoni & Anita Bundy & Scott Duncan, 2019. "A Cross-Sectional Description of Parental Perceptions and Practices Related to Risky Play and Independent Mobility in Children: The New Zealand State of Play Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Mark S. Tremblay & Casey Gray & Shawna Babcock & Joel Barnes & Christa Costas Bradstreet & Dawn Carr & Guylaine Chabot & Louise Choquette & David Chorney & Cam Collyer & Susan Herrington & Katherine J, 2015. "Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-31, June.
    6. Karolina Boxberger & Anne Kerstin Reimers, 2019. "Parental Correlates of Outdoor Play in Boys and Girls Aged 0 to 12—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-19, January.
    7. Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter & Ole Johan Sando & Rasmus Kleppe, 2021. "Associations between Children’s Risky Play and ECEC Outdoor Play Spaces and Materials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-15, March.
    8. Òscar Flores & Anabel Ramos-Pla & Isabel del Arco, 2022. "The Management of Safety Situations and Assumable Risk during Transitions and Recesses in Different Types of Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, March.
    9. Ball, Jude & Grucza, Richard & Livingston, Michael & ter Bogt, Tom & Currie, Candace & de Looze, Margaretha, 2023. "The great decline in adolescent risk behaviours: Unitary trend, separate trends, or cascade?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    10. Amalie Lambert & Janae Vlaar & Susan Herrington & Mariana Brussoni, 2019. "What Is the Relationship between the Neighbourhood Built Environment and Time Spent in Outdoor Play? A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-35, October.

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