Synopsis

This 2012 review makes a compelling case for letting children engage in outdoor “risky play” while still keeping them safe. It argues that over-protection can actually harm healthy development.

• Children have a natural, universal drive for thrilling play (heights, speed, rough-and-tumble, etc.) that helps them master motor skills, assess risks, build resilience, regulate emotions, and gain confidence.
• Generational shifts toward more indoor, supervised time have coincided with rising obesity, sedentary behavior, anxiety, and reduced independence—trends the authors link in part to removing everyday play challenges.
• True safety means eliminating hidden hazards (like broken equipment) but allowing manageable risks so kids learn to handle them themselves—“as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible.”
• Promising solutions include adventure playgrounds with loose parts and child-led exploration, which research shows support creativity, social skills, and physical activity with surprisingly low injury rates.

The paper closes by calling for cross-disciplinary collaboration so injury prevention and child development goals work together instead of against each other.

Article

Here’s the article:

Citation

Brussoni M, Olsen LL, Pike I, Sleet DA. Risky play and children’s safety: balancing priorities for optimal child development. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2012 Aug 30;9(9):3134-48. doi: 10.3390/ijerph9093134. PMID: 23202675; PMCID: PMC3499858.

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