Risky Play

Here at Little Angels, we believe in “risky play”. Risky play is defined as play that provides opportunities for challenges, testing limits, exploring boundaries, encountering uncertainty, and learning about injury risk. Risky play supports children’s growth, learning and development - even walking, running, climbing and riding a bike require negotiation with injury risks. Research shows that not only does it increase children’s physical and motor skills but also teaches them about their own limits, and how to deal with risks in the future. Many children don’t often get the opportunity to play with sticks, climb trees, jump from high heights, or build with rocks. Here at Little Angels, we provide the opportunity for children to participate in this type of play in a safe and supportive environment; however, we never force children to partake in risky play. Each child knows their limits and we respect them.

Our Adventure Playground is one unique feature here at Little Angels that allows for risky play opportunity. Adventure playgrounds are areas containing loose parts that children can build and shape their environment in their own way, using their imagination. These types of playgrounds became popular in the 1940’s in Denmark and the UK, however, there are only a handful in the United States. On our adventure playground, you will find children building with pieces of wood, tires, PVC pipes, branches, rope, and cardboard boxes. These types of play spaces are much safer than adult-designed playgrounds because children create to their own personal limits, while adult designed playgrounds are made for what adults think ALL children’s limits are. These play spaces support problem solving skills, working collaboratively, and the use of the scientific method.