CREATIVE
Positive Risk in Outdoor Play Environments
Project Type:
Research Publication
Published as: Loebach, J., Ramsden, R., Cox, A., Joyce, K., & Brussoni, M. (2023). Running the risk: The social, behavioral and environmental associations with positive risk in children’s play activities in outdoor playspaces. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, 26(3), 307–339. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-023-00145-1
While positive risk in play is essential for children's development, we know little about which specific environmental features best support risky play. This study investigated what social interactions, physical elements, and environmental conditions actually encourage children's risk-taking in outdoor spaces. By examining risk behaviors across both a naturalized playspace in California and childcare centers in Vancouver, our research identifies practical design factors that create optimal conditions for positive risk-taking experiences – crucial knowledge for designers, educators, and caregivers seeking to create developmentally beneficial outdoor environments.
Factors linked to children's risky play in a natural outdoor setting. Uneven ground, fast movement, and natural features were most likely to encourage risky play, especially when adults offered physical support.
Approach and Learnings
Methods
Using systematic behavior mapping, we observed and recorded over 2,332 play events across nine different outdoor environments. Each 15-second play observation was coded for risk level, play type, social interactions, and physical environmental features using validated classification systems. We then conducted statistical analyses to identify which factors were most strongly associated with positive risk-taking behaviors. This allowed us to examine not just whether children engaged in risky play, but precisely where, how, and under what conditions risk exploration occurred.
Findings
Our analysis revealed that positive risk-taking was strongly associated with physical play and higher-intensity movement activities regardless of setting. More surprising was the significant impact of topography –uneven ground surfaces were 33 times more likely to support risky play than flat areas. Natural elements and manufactured features (like boulders and climbing structures) also significantly increased risk-taking behaviors. Contrary to our expectations, specific types of adult interaction, particularly directing and custodial categorized interactions where adults supported children in tackling challenges were associated with increased risk-taking. These findings demonstrate that thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces with diverse topography, natural elements, and physical challenges can naturally encourage the developmental benefits of risk-taking, especially when combined with supportive adult engagement.