Play Expertise

UNDERSTANDING BENEFICIAL RISK

The Risk-Benefit Framework

Contemporary playground design increasingly employs risk-benefit assessment rather than risk-elimination approaches. This framework, developed by Play Safety Forum and adopted across Europe and Australasia, acknowledges that play activities offering developmental benefits may involve some degree of risk - and that these benefits often justify accepting controlled risks rather than eliminating challenging activities.

Professor David Ball's research at Middlesex University has demonstrated that the drive to eliminate risk from playgrounds has contributed to reduced physical literacy, increased childhood obesity and diminished confidence in children's ability to manage real-world challenges. His work helped establish the principle that:

"the goal is not to eliminate risk but to weigh risks against benefits."

Risk-benefit thinking requires identifying what children gain from challenging play experiences and balancing those benefits against potential harms. A 3-metre climbing structure poses fall risk, but it also develops strength, coordination, spatial awareness and confidence. If properly surfaced and constructed, the benefits substantially outweigh the manageable, low-probability risks.

Play Value and Perceived Risk

Playgrounds which focus on adventure succeed when they create significant perceived risk - the feeling that an activity is challenging and requires courage - whilst managing actual danger through careful design and appropriate safety surfacing. This distinction proves crucial for effective adventure play design.

Children respond to perceived rather than actual risk. An elevated rope bridge with secure construction and appropriate fall surfacing may pose minimal real danger, yet feels thrilling and challenging. A well-designed climbing wall with varied hold patterns and modest height creates sustained engagement through graduated challenge rather than genuine hazard.

Designers maximise play value by creating features that feel adventurous whilst incorporating safety measures that reduce serious injury risk. This requires understanding children's perceptions, developmental capabilities and the psychological aspects of challenge alongside technical safety requirements.

TYPES OF BENEFICIAL RISK AND ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS

Ellen Sandseter's influential research at Queen Maud University identified several categories of risky play that children actively seek and that contribute to healthy development. Adventure play spaces can deliberately incorporate these risk types to enhance play value and developmental benefits.

Heights and Elevated Play

Climbing structures, platforms and elevated walkways provide height experiences that thrill children whilst developing spatial awareness, physical confidence and motor planning. Children gauge distances, plan routes and gradually extend their comfort zones as experience builds.

Well-designed height experiences offer multiple difficulty levels. Lower climbing routes serve cautious children or those developing skills. Higher platforms and more demanding ascents challenge capable users. This graduated approach allows children to progress at appropriate paces, experiencing success before attempting more demanding challenges.

Fall height regulations and impact-absorbing surfacing requirements shape design parameters, but creative solutions maximise height experience within safety constraints. Multiple levels create varied height sensations. Transparent materials in railings preserve elevated feelings without compromising safety. Strategic placement uses natural topography to enhance height perception.

Speed and Dynamic Movement

Swings and slides provide speed experiences that engage proprioceptive and vestibular systems whilst creating exhilarating sensations. The controlled risk of rapid movement proves consistently appealing across age ranges and capability levels.

Swings remain among children's favourite playground elements specifically because of the speed and height sensations they provide. Modern swing design can enhance these experiences through varied seat types, different suspension methods and creative frame designs whilst maintaining necessary safety measures.

Balance and Instability

Rope bridges, wobble beams and unstable climbing elements challenge children's balance systems and core strength. These challenges differ from height or speed risks, requiring continuous adjustment and body awareness rather than single courageous decisions.

Balance challenges prove particularly valuable for developing physical competence because they scale naturally to user capability. More confident children cross rope bridges quickly, creating additional challenges through speed. Cautious users proceed slowly, maintaining control whilst still experiencing genuine challenge.

Design strategies include varied bridge lengths and configurations, wobble platforms at different heights, and climbing elements with intentional movement. These features integrate naturally into larger timber structures, creating complexity and variety within unified installations.

See challenging play structures in action

BENEFITS OF RISKY PLAY

Incorporating appropriate challenges into adventurous playgrounds produces multiple developmental benefits, supported by extensive research from play, psychology and child development fields.

Physical Development and Capability

Challenging play structures develop strength, coordination, balance and spatial awareness through sustained physical activity. Unlike sedentary entertainment, adventure play requires continuous movement, problem-solving and physical effort.

Research published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health has demonstrated that playgrounds incorporating varied height, climbing and balance challenges generate significantly higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity than conventional equipment. Children spend longer periods engaged in challenging play, contributing to recommended activity levels and developing physical literacy.

Motor skill development proves particularly significant. Children navigating complex rope structures, climbing varied surfaces and managing dynamic movement develop broad-based physical competence transferable to other activities and sports. This general capability serves them across life rather than creating narrow skill sets.

Emotional Resilience and Confidence

Successfully managing challenging play experiences builds confidence and self-efficacy. Children who master previously daunting climbs or navigate challenging rope courses gain tangible evidence of growing competence. These experiences create positive feedback loops - confidence enables attempting new challenges, success builds further confidence.

Dr Tim Gill's research into risk and childhood resilience identified playground challenges as a valuable arena for developing emotional regulation and courage. Unlike many childhood challenges involving social or academic pressures, playground risks offer concrete, physical challenges with immediate feedback. Success or failure is clear, and children can retry as often as needed to achieve mastery.

This resilience extends beyond the playground. Children who develop confidence managing physical challenges often demonstrate greater willingness to attempt difficult tasks in other domains. They learn that initial failure doesn't preclude eventual success and that perseverance yields results.

Risk Assessment and Decision-Making

Perhaps most importantly, engaging with graduated challenges teaches risk assessment and decision-making. Children evaluate their capabilities against challenge demands, deciding whether to attempt activities or wait until more prepared. They plan approaches, modify strategies when initial attempts fail, and learn to distinguish between uncomfortable challenges and genuinely unwise risks.

These are crucial life skills that cannot be taught through instruction alone - they require practice in real situations with genuine consequences. Adventurous playgrounds provide ideal environments for this learning because the risks, whilst real enough to engage children's attention, are managed through design and surfacing to prevent serious harm.

Children who engage regularly with challenging play develop better risk calibration than peers in over-protected environments. They learn what they can safely attempt, how to prepare for challenges, and when to back away. These capabilities serve them throughout life, from traffic navigation to adult recreational activities.

DESIGNING FOR GRADUATED CHALLENGE

Effective adventurous playgrounds incorporate risk in ways that serve users across ability levels and developmental stages.

Multiple Difficulty Routes

Structures should offer varied access and circulation routes at different difficulty levels. A climbing tower might include a straightforward ladder, a moderately challenging cargo net, and a demanding climbing wall with varied holds. This variety allows children to choose appropriate challenges whilst providing progression routes as capabilities develop.

Multiple routes also accommodate group dynamics, allowing children with different capabilities to play together. Siblings with age gaps can use the same structure, each finding suitable challenges. Friend groups include varied physical capabilities, yet all can participate.

Clear Visual Feedback

Design should help children assess challenges before committing. Transparent construction methods allow children to see routes completely before attempting them. Platform heights should be clearly perceptible from ground level. This visual information helps children make informed decisions about whether to attempt activities.

Equally, children need the ability to pause and reassess during challenging activities. Platforms at intermediate heights provide rest points and decision moments. Rope bridges with mid-way platforms allow users to evaluate whether to continue or return.

Progressive Challenge Sequencing

Consider how challenges relate to each other within structures. Beginning with easier elements allows children to build confidence before encountering more demanding features. This sequencing isn't rigid - multiple access points mean children can enter at various difficulty levels - but thoughtful arrangement supports natural progression.

For instance, a structure might place a moderately challenging rope net climb near ground level, leading to platforms that then provide access to higher, more demanding elements. Children attempting the initial climb gain experience and confidence before facing additional challenges.

View our graduated challenge play equipment 

THE ADULT ROLE IN RISKY PLAY

How adults supervise and respond to challenging play significantly influences whether children gain intended benefits from adventurous playground experiences.

Stepping Back Versus Hovering

Research consistently demonstrates that excessive adult intervention undermines the developmental benefits of risky play. When adults constantly caution, assist or direct children's play, they prevent children from developing independent risk assessment and decision-making capabilities.

Yet stepping back proves challenging for many parents and caregivers. We're guided by how we were raised - often in more risk-averse times - and by perceived societal pressure. The parent who allows their child to climb high whilst other adults watch can feel judged. Concerns about what other parents think, what playground supervisors might say, or how our parenting will be perceived create powerful pressures toward intervention even when we recognise children benefit from managing their own challenges.

Effective supervision involves watchful waiting rather than constant intervention. When circumstances allow, positioning ourselves where we can observe without hovering directly beside playing children helps them feel they're managing challenges independently whilst ensuring we can intervene if genuine danger emerges. This isn't always easy - it requires managing our own anxiety and resisting the urge to help when children struggle.

The distinction between discomfort and danger is crucial, though not always clear in the moment. When children are struggling but managing - even if they appear uncomfortable or uncertain - allowing them to persist through the challenge supports their learning and development. Struggle and uncertainty are part of the learning process. Children benefit from opportunities to develop strategies, problem-solve and experience achievement after effort. That said, every parent and carer must make their own judgement about when to step in, and there's no single right answer for every situation or every child.

Allowing Children to Self-Assess

Children possess surprisingly accurate capability assessments when allowed to develop them. Most children won't attempt challenges genuinely beyond their abilities if given time and space to evaluate freely. Adult pressure - "go on, you can do it!" - or being a little over-protective - "that's too high for you" - can sometimes interfere with children's natural self-assessment.

Adults serve children better by trusting their judgements and supporting their decisions, whether to attempt or decline challenges.

Comments like: "you'll know when you're ready" or "you can take your time deciding" validate children's authority over their own bodies and capabilities.

When children do attempt challenges beyond their readiness, the experience - whether success or dignified retreat - provides valuable learning. Most playground challenges are designed such that children can safely back down if they discover they've overreached.

Intervening for Genuine Danger

The case against over-protection doesn't mean abdicating supervision entirely. Adults should intervene when children are genuinely at risk through behaviour that circumvents designed safety measures - using equipment incorrectly in ways that defeat safeguards, for instance, or creating hazards for other users.

The key is distinguishing between designed challenge, which children should navigate independently, and genuine hazard arising from misuse or unforeseen circumstances. A child climbing high on a structure designed for that purpose doesn't require intervention. A child attempting to jump from an inappropriate height or using equipment in dangerous ways may need adult guidance.

Creating Supportive Atmospheres

Adults influence playground culture through their presence and responses. Celebrating effort and persistence rather than just achievement encourages children to attempt challenges. Acknowledging that backing away from overwhelming challenges shows good judgement rather than failure supports healthy risk assessment.

Adult anxiety is contagious. Adults who react anxiously to normal playground challenge transmit those anxieties to children, undermining confidence. Conversely, adults who project calm confidence in children's capabilities help children approach challenges positively.

COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES WITH CHILDREN

How adults talk with children about risky play shapes children's developing risk competence.

Encouraging Problem-Solving

Rather than providing solutions or instructions, adults can pose questions that prompt children's own thinking. "How do you think you'll get down from there?" encourages planning. "What's your plan for crossing that bridge?" prompts reflection about approach.

These questions demonstrate interest and engagement without taking over children's challenge management. They also prompt useful thinking - many children attempt challenges impulsively without considering full sequences, and gentle prompts can encourage more thoughtful approaches.

Validating Feelings Whilst Promoting Courage

Children experiencing uncertainty about challenges benefit from acknowledgement of their feelings alongside encouragement.

"That looks scary - I can see why you're thinking carefully" validates their experience. "Take your time deciding - you know your body best" affirms their authority whilst leaving space for courage.

This approach differs from dismissing fears ("don't be silly, it's easy!") which invalidates children's experiences, or over-protecting ("you're right, it's too dangerous") which reinforces avoidance. It threads between these extremes, acknowledging challenge whilst expressing confidence in the child's capability to manage it.

Avoiding Overprotective Language

Certain phrases undermine children's confidence and risk assessment development. "Be careful!" suggests adults expect failure or injury. "You're going to fall!" plants expectations of negative outcomes. "That's too high/hard/scary for you" imposes adult assessments over children's self-knowledge.

More helpful language might include "take your time," "trust yourself," or "you've got this." These phrases express confidence whilst leaving space for children's own assessment and decision-making.

Celebrating Attempts, Not Just Successes

Children benefit from recognition of courage and effort regardless of outcome. "I noticed how brave you were trying that climb" values the attempt. "You really thought carefully about whether you were ready - good decision-making" validates thoughtful retreat.

This approach prevents the problematic dynamic where only successful completion of challenges receives praise, creating pressure to attempt things beyond readiness or to persist when sensible to stop.

Discuss your safety and challenge balance

CASE STUDY EXAMPLES

Several Timberplay installations demonstrate successful integration of appropriate challenge.

RSPB Old Moor incorporates substantial climbing structures and elevated platforms providing height experiences whilst integrating with the wetland reserve setting. The design balances conservation sensitivity with robust play value, creating challenges that engage older children in an environmental context.

Chester Zoo's play installations serve high visitor numbers requiring durable construction alongside challenging features that compete with the zoo's other attractions. The adventure play elements incorporate height, varied climbing routes and water features creating genuine play destinations rather than simple rest stops.

Seaburn's coastal playground uses rope elements, climbing challenges and water play to create an adventure destination that draws visitors and creates local identity. The unthemed natural materials and challenging structures have proven durability in an exposed coastal environment.

CONCLUSION

Encouraging appropriate risk in playgrounds represents evidence-based practice aligned with contemporary understanding of child development and play value. Rather than eliminating challenge, effective design creates graduated risks that children can assess and navigate independently, developing physical capability, emotional resilience and decision-making skills.

For professionals designing adventurous playgrounds, this requires balancing regulatory compliance with commitment to genuine challenge, supporting clients through risk-benefit frameworks, and creating environments where children can develop competence through authentic experiences. The result is play spaces that serve children's developmental needs rather than simply minimising adult anxiety.

Contact our team to discuss how to integrate beneficial risk into your playground project.