8 Types of Risky Play

Ellen Beate Sandseter is a Norwegian researcher who has identified eight types of risky play in which children can engage. Keep an eye out for posts to come about why risky play is important, the status of it in the West, and how we can encourage it among young children with our language. For now, here are the eight kinds of risky play!

1) PLAY AT GREAT HEIGHTS

This can look like climbing really high on a play structure or up a tree. It could be a toddler who likes balancing on a beam or a Pikler triangle, or an older infant who is always on top of the couch or the coffee table.  

2) PLAY AT HIGH SPEEDS

This is exactly what it sounds like! It’s the kid on the strider bike or the scooter flying down the driveway or running as fast as they can at the park. 

3) PLAY WITH DANGEROUS TOOLS

I’ve observed this become more mainstream in recent years with the Montessori at home movement taking off. It’s a means to an end and the end is independence and autonomy for young children! Parents often give their children Montessori knives so they can help with food prep or even prepare a snack for themselves on their own. At Boulder Journey School, there is a wood working station with tools and clamps. This zone wasn’t always “open” but when it was, teachers supervised and assisted.

4) PLAY WITH DANGEROUS ELEMENTS

These are usually naturally occurring elements- an icy patch, a steep hill, or a cliff. Sometimes children seek a thrill by interacting with or playing near these features. 

5) ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE PLAY

I’m a HUGE advocate for rough-and-tumble play! This is jumping, rolling, tackling, wrestling, or play fighting. It’s an amazing venue for children to become familiar with their own strengths and weaknesses, explore social dynamics with friends and siblings, and uphold their own AND respect others’ boundaries. Check out this reel for ways you can supervise and promote it responsibly! 

6) DISAPPEARING OR GETTING LOST

In reality, children aren’t disappearing, they’re being trusted to wander away in an area without fences or boundaries. They probably think the stakes are higher than they are and feel a sense of independence because of this allowance. The caregiver most likely has tabs on them the whole time ;)

7) PLAY WITH IMPACT

This could look like jumping into pillows or constantly “crashing” a toy truck into pretty much anything. I had a student once who loved diving headfirst into any plush surface he could find. He also loved jumping into our arms! 

8) VICARIOUS PLAY

This is when a child feels thrill from watching someone else take a risk. I observed this in my toddler class and it was so sweet to hear the language they used to communicate their excitement, things like “Careful, you’re gonna be talllll!” 

WORKS CITED

Hansen Sandseter, E. B. (2007). Categorising risky play—how can we identify risk‐taking in children's play?. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 15(2), 237-252.

Sandseter, E. B. H., & Kennair, L. E. O. (2011). Children's risky play from an evolutionary perspective: The anti-phobic effects of thrilling experiences. Evolutionary psychology, 9(2), 147470491100900212.

Sandseter, E. B. H., Kleppe, R., & Sando, O. J. (2020). The prevalence of risky play in young children’s indoor and outdoor free play. Early Childhood Education Journal, 1-10.