Life is a risky business and, as argued by early years experts Peter Moss and Pat Petrie, 'risk is inherent in human endeavour, and for children not to engage with it is for them to be cut off from an important part of life'.
The Mental Health Foundation asserts that free play outdoors 'enables children to take risks, think through decisions and gain increased self confidence and greater resilience'. So if exposing children to risk in a managed and supportive situation is a positive aspect of our outdoor practice, how do we balance the benefits of risky play against the potential for harm? How do we introduce challenge while keeping hazards to an acceptable level? How can we offer children adventure and keep them safe?
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