Skinned Knees: The Benefits of Risky Play

Participants will have an opportunity to explore the importance of “managed risk” in children’s play to keep them engaged and learning. Content includes:

• The science behind the benefits of risky play: focusing on the physical, emotional and psychological development that occurs

• How risky play impacts literacy and learning

• Research indicating how to access active outdoor play– with its risks- is essential for healthy child development

• Discussions surrounding how parents, caregivers and professionals can increase opportunities for unstructured, self-directed play that expose children to developmentally appropriate situations that allow them to self-manage risk