Associations between Children’s Risky Play and ECEC Outdoor Play Spaces and Materials

Abstract

Children spend a large amount of time each day in early childhood education and care (ECEC) institutions, and the ECEC play environments are important for children’s play opportunities. This includes children’s opportunities to engage in risky play. This study examined the relationship between the outdoor play environment and the occurrence of children’s risky play in ECEC institutions. Children (n = 80) were observed in two-minute sequences during periods of the day when they were free to choose what to do. The data consists of 935 randomly recorded two-minute videos, which were coded second by second for several categories of risky play as well as where and with what materials the play occurred. Results revealed that risky play (all categories in total) was positively associated with fixed equipment for functional play, nature and other fixed structures, while analysis of play materials showed that risky play was positively associated with wheeled toys. The results can support practitioners in developing their outdoor areas to provide varied and exciting play opportunities.

Risky Play and Social Behaviors among Japanese Preschoolers: Direct Observation Method

“…This is a cross-sectional study which examines the association between risky play and prosocial behaviors among preschool children. Social behaviors were measured by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) [23], while risky play was measured by the Risky Play Scale [24]. Covariates were measured through direct observation.…”

“…The relationship between risky play and social behaviors was examined by using logistic regression, with risk play being an explanatory variable, and prosocial behaviors and total difficulty score being an outcome variable. Previous studies have reported that the frequency of implementation of risky play is 10-20% of the total play, which is low [24,31]. For this reason, we decided to use the cut-point based on the prevalence of risky play in our sample.…”

“…We examined the frequency of risky plays (i.e., jumping from high places, playing at high speed), which had been examined separately, by combining them and using direct observation methods. A similar study conducted by Sandseter et al (2021) [19] did not include sociability or difficulty. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between risky play and prosocial behavior, as well as difficulties in daily life, among children.…”

“…Measurements were taken by observing the activities during free play in each of the four play areas (open space, playground space, sand space, and indoor space) (Figure 1). At first, the observers were asked to record children's free play every 30 s. Thereafter, children's play were categorized "risky play" or "non-risky play" using the Risky Play Scale [24] which was validated by previous studies [13,[29][30][31].…”

Sand Play for 0–8-Year-Old Children’s Health and Development: A Systematic Review Protocol

“…Thus, individuals perceptions of the physical opportunities afford activity that is in the range of individual capabilities. Therefore, as previous studies have shown, natural materials such as sand may stimulate children engaging in activities that develop movement [ 9 ] as well as constructive, and functional, play [ 10 , 11 ].…”