Macquarie University ResearchOnline

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/101627

Title

Risk, challenge and safety in outdoor play : pedagogical and regulatory tensions

Related

Asia-Pacific journal of research in early childhood education, Vol. 4, Issue 1 (2010), p.3-24

Publisher

Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association

Date

2010

Author/Creator

Little, Helen

Description

Early Childhood services are becoming an increasingly significant part of children's lives. As such they offer vital opportunities for children to engage in physically challenging active play in a safe and secure environment. However, in an increasingly 'risk averse' society an over-emphasis on safety has seen such play opportunities eroded. This qualitative study explored Early Childhood practitioners' (n = 17) beliefs about risk-taking and their provision of 'risky' play opportunities in the outdoor environment. The findings suggest that from a pedagogical perspective, practitioners believe opportunities for risk-taking are important for all aspects of children's development however the regulatory environment places constraints on their ability to provide sufficiently challenging experiences. The research findings support the call for more flexible enforcement of regulations to allow practitioners to use their professional knowledge to make informed decisions in risk situations.

Description

22 page(s)

Subject Keyword

risk-taking

Subject Keyword

outdoor play

Subject Keyword

regulations

Subject Keyword

early childhood practitioners' beliefs

Resource Type

journal article

Organisation

Macquarie University. Institute of Early Childhood

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Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/101627

Identifier

ISSN:1976-1961

Identifier

mq-rm-2009010408

Language

eng

Reviewed

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Subject

"Asia-Pacific journal of research in early childhood education"

 

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