Risk-taking During Childhood Play

Introduction to the proposed study area
The aim of this dissertation is to focus on the question of the nature of risk around children’s play. What risks are the kinds of risks children prefer? How these risks are tolerated and coped with. What is meant by risky play the thrilling and exciting form of play which involves the chance of physical injury. This type of play can involve great heights, high speeds or even dangerous environments and elements. Risky play generally takes place outdoors and is generally through children’s free play which is normally not organised by adults.

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My interest for studying children’s play lies in my perceptions of my son and that children seem to seek and prefer this type of play. Play is built in to a child’s very nature this helps them to learn, and be curious about there surroundings and themselves. This is that they unconsciously test boundaries and possibilities from there environment to get a reaction. It is through this play that they discover what is safe and what is not.
This type of play is becoming increasingly hard to find due to the welfare state of today securing our environments in order to avoid accidents and liability issues. This has set a trend to prohibit the dangerous, resulting in an aversion on taking risk. This focus on children’s play and playgrounds has continuously grown over recent years bringing play to many discussions about the balance between safety, risk and the opportunities for children to develop through play. In this research I aim to examin issues such as safety accidents and children’s developmental benefits of risk in play.
Aims of the project
The main aims of the dissertation are to:

Evaluate literature, best practice guidance, government guidance, and information on child development and risk
Research legal positions with in risk and play
The effect of risk upon an individual
Present a picture of children’s play relative to a risk adverse society
Research the benefits of risk in children’s play
Explain why learning benefits will be reduced by removing risk
Summary of risky criteria
Make recommendations on how to encourage risk to make the best use of play areas (by the use of case studies)
Research legal positions with in risk and play

Personal Aims include:

To complete the dissertation and gain my MA
Extend my knowledge regarding children’s play and best practice
Gain skills in conducting research
Develop contacts through seminars, meetings and work
Prepare myself in furthering my employment skills

Scope and limitations of the study
The topic is selected because it represents, possible significant risks to the health and well being of children and any possible subsequent social or health implications, which could contribute to the development of children from risky behaviour. This study will focus on the healthy risky behaviour of children’s play such as physical interactivity and unintentional injury.
The methods of study could include observational or interventional with secondary data analyses of existing information, analyses of costs and benefits of risk in play to children. A multidisciplinary approach will be used researching findings from children’s behavioural scientists, education, public policy and others.
Which can be influenced by a multitude of social, environmental or psychological factors. These could be affected by genetic makeup, temperament and memory of previous experiences could all be potential factors. These can all influence the physical intellectual and emotional development of risk in play it is my opinion that children should be encouraged to expand upon current experiences to consider techniques and strategies such as decision making and goal directed behaviours.
Skills that could be developed through play are self-monitoring, self-awareness, stress management, mental imagery, prevention skills, conflict resolution, assertiveness skills, decision making skills, and will help develop healthy behaviors.
Both internal and external factors could contribute to an individual’s tendency to engage in or refrain from risky behaviors. What these factors are, how they interact, for whom, and when in the developmental trajectory, are all questions of importance in understanding risky behaviors and behavior change and development in children.
Methodology and methods
Literature search and review, data will be accessed through university library, city library’s and information service using a selection of tertiary and secondary information sources such as the information database, bibliographic database, internet search engines, directories and journals. These sources will be reviewed and analysed through a qualitative method for my primary data collection.
Through observations and talking to children and school staff I plan to find out what kind of risky play children prefer and like to do. I will also look into how staff will arrange and cope with this type of play. This will help to find about children’s and adults thoughts and attitudes on risky play.
I plan on observing children at several primary schools going about there every day life. This will allow me to get a better impression on how children’s risky play differs. I plan on collecting recordings images and write field notes thoughts and reflections.
Studies of interest maybe:
Secondary data analyses of existing information and desktop studies
Benefits to children, issues and opportunities conduct primary research with schools
Observational studies case studies
Interventional how to make changes
Resources
The university facilities will be used extensively in support of my dissertation. In particularly the university library, computing suites and
on-line systems. I will also be attending

seminars and lectures
Conducting interviews
Using work experience
Conducting internet research
Reading books and journals

Time table
Prepare dissertation proposal

Literature searching
Literature searching
Intensive research
Final proposal

Bibliography listing

Dissertation presentation
Further reading
Draft dissertation
Editing and rewrites

References

Bruner, J. (1972). Nature and uses of immaturity. American Psychologist, 27, 687-708.
Children’s Play Council (2002). More than swings and roundabouts: Planning for outdoor play. Retrieved 23 May 2009, www.ncb.org.uk/dotpdf/open%20access%20-%20phase%201%20only/moveswing2_cpc_20050512.pdf
Dempsey, J. D., & Frost, J. L. (1993). Play environments in early childhood education. In B. Spodek (Ed.), Handbook of research on the education of young children New York: Macmillan.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Getting serious about play: A review of children’s play. London: Author. Retrieved 12 June 2009, www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/21762951-E07E-4439-8BA3-04C6ECE510A3/0/ReviewofChildrensPlay.pdf
Fjortoft, I. (2001). The natural environment as a playground for children: The impact of outdoor play activities in pre-primary school children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 29(2), 111-117
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(Ed.), Handbook of research on the education of young children (pp. 24-41). New York: Macmillan.
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