Children significantly benefit from experiencing proper risk when they play, as well as from being able to manipulate their environment.
This is according to an article for the Guardian, which looked at how the design of children’s playgrounds is changing to reflect the fact that children need to be given the opportunity to play in less restrictive environments.
Speaking to the news provider, landscape architect Jennette Emery-Wallis, who is behind several award-winning playgrounds, said that it’s important to allow children to make their playgrounds their own.
One of her projects is Tumbling Bay in Olympic Park, which she explained was designed “for proper risk taking and getting dirt under your fingernails”. Ms Emery-Wallis added that Play England has a thorough assessment system for measuring risk against benefit.
“You’ve got to have a sense of risk and excitement, otherwise we’re cosseting our kids in a bubble-wrapped world,” she stated.
She also said that she believes play in this way shouldn’t just be restricted to children, but should encompass adults and other members of the community too.
There’s also a lot to be said for signing your kids up for adventure activities in Derbyshire to give them the chance to try a host of things from high ropes courses to rock climbing. While there are of course safety measures in place, these activities are exciting and introduce that concept of risk.
We have a host of winter warmer activities taking place across our centres in the coming weeks. Try your hand at the likes of shelter building or climbing this winter – they’re great activities for grown-ups as well as kids.
