Risky Play in Early Years: Why It’s Essential for Child Development
Our years of experience at The Treehouse Club (and memories of our own childhoods!) shows that children thrive when given opportunities to explore, experiment, and challenge themselves in a wide variety of situations.
One area that often sparks a lot of discussion among parents and educators is risky play.
There’s a whole wealth of accredited research about Risky Play (alongside anecdotal evidence from years of watching it in action) that shows it can be incredibly beneficial for a child’s development when carefully managed but the word ‘risk' often gives parents pause.
What is Risky Play?
Risky play is basically any activity where children encounter a degree of challenge, uncertainty, or risk, all within a safe and supervised environment. Examples include climbing, balancing on beams, building dens, or experimenting with loose parts and tools. The essential factor is that these activities are developmentally appropriate, providing children with opportunities to test limits and learn through experience at the right pace for their age group.
The Benefits of Risky Play
Building Confidence and Independence
Climbing frames, balancing beams, and other challenging activities help children develop confidence and trust in their own body. Successfully navigating these challenges fosters a sense of independence that’s hard to beat with any other type of play.Supporting Physical Development
Engaging in climbing, balancing, and other adventurous activities strengthens coordination, agility, and both fine and gross motor skills. Risky play is a fun way to promote physical health from an early age.Encouraging Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
When children encounter obstacles—such as figuring out how to come down from a climbing frame or construct a den—they develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and critical thinking abilities.Promoting Resilience
Not every attempt will succeed- that’s true for children and adults. By guiding children to manage minor setbacks, adjust approaches, and try again nurtures their resilience and perseverance.
Forest School: Nature as a Playground
Outdoor activities and a love of the natural world are at the heart of everything we do at The Treehouse Club; we're passionate about the outdoors and nature truly is our greatest teacher. Forest School takes risky play further by immersing children in natural environments and a variety of situations and weathers. At The Treehouse Club, children climb trees, build dens, handle natural materials, and navigate uneven terrain- all while supervised and encouraged. Nature provides endless opportunities for safe challenges that help to develop confidence, coordination, creativity, and environmental awareness.
Risky Play Indoors
While risky play is often associated with outdoor activities, indoor environments can be carefully designed to offer similar challenges. Indoor climbing frames, balance beams, soft mats, and moveable equipment allow children to explore height, balance, and coordination in a controlled setting. These opportunities are particularly valuable in nurseries where weather or space limitations may restrict outdoor play.
Positive Risky Play Indoors at Treehouse Club Great Totham
Balancing Safety and Risk
Effective risky play is not about removing all safety—it is about managing the risks appropriately. Thorough risk assessments are carried out on all activities and with all equipment. Supervision, age-appropriate activities, and teaching children to assess risks independently ensure that play is both challenging and secure. By embracing these principles, children can develop essential skills while exploring safely.
Risky play equips children with real-life confidence, resilience, physical strength, and problem-solving skills. Whether climbing indoor frames, balancing on beams, or adventuring through Forest School, these experiences help children grow into capable, independent, and confident learners.
All Treehouse Club members will have the chance for Risky Play in a controlled and carefully managed environment. From den-building, to cooking outdoors and climbing trees we have a huge range of activities designed to challenge our little learners mentally and physically throughout their day.