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Adventurous Play: It’s Something To Talk About

When’s the last time you and your co-workers talked about adventurous, risky, or big body play? This type of programming is often something that people have strong opinions about but hesitate to discuss.

Author and early childhood expert, Deb Curtis, reflects on the differences she and her co-workers had about allowing children to take risks.

“A number of us were continually fearful that children would get hurt; others were concerned that if children didn’t learn to follow rules, they would have a hard time following the rules when they got to public school. Some were worried about parent concerns and legal actions. Still others loved to join in and even help children create the adventurous ideas and risky activities that children regularly pursued.

“For a long time we didn’t openly discuss our differences and there was an undercurrent of tension among us...Things started to change when a new director was hired...She wanted us to think through our ideas and define some shared agreements...Her favorite saying was: ‘What risks do we take if we don’t help children to negotiate risks?’...She led staff meetings where we:

• discussed our life experiences and how they impact our reactions to these challenging situations with children

• talked about the children’s and families’ points of view and what they deserve from us

• reviewed the most current information from licensing and best practices for risk and safety in child care programs.” (From “Really Seeing Children,” as quoted in ExchangeEveryDay 11/2/17)

If you and your teaching staff are ready to have a similar experience, Penn State Better Kid Care’s On Demand module “Adventurous Play: The Whys and Hows” can help. Pick out one of the videos or reflection tools from the module and use it as a basis for discussion at an upcoming staff meeting or retreat. Be inspired by the wide range of examples of adventurous play provided in the module including rough-and-tumble play, outdoor building, and mud and water play. With the help of your local certification representative, you can find acceptable solutions to providing adventure within safe parameters.

Learn safe ways to support children’s jumping, climbing, rolling, sliding, being upside down, building with sticks and tools, and exploring beyond the play yard fence. Teams may find it helpful to use this tool to record their concerns and ideas as they discuss adventurous opportunities.

Start with a simple activity—newspaper crash. Many children have seen football players running through paper banners to get psyched for a game. Superheroes like the Hulk smash through walls. Children can feel powerful doing a similar thing. Two people hold a sheet of newspaper tight like a wall, and children take turns running straight through it. It may be scary for some children the first time or two, but soon they love the amazing feel. At the end of the game, turn the accumulated pile of torn up paper into newspaper balls to throw at each other (adults may need to set a limit about force or distance or body shots only). Finally, bring out a recycling bin so everyone can play newspaper basketball until all paper is cleaned up. Get more adventurous play ideas here.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

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