Early learning teacher and advisor from the Department of Education, Nicci McDowell, shared advice on risky play with over 500 participants from ECEC services across New South Wales.

Held during the first week of the September Roadshow, the session was explored; what is risky play, the benefits of risky play and how to take a planned and supportive approach to risky play.

“This is an opportunity to critically reflect on risky play, the benefits to children and how to take a planned and supported approach in your own context,” Nicci said.

Nicci shared that risky play involves thrilling, exciting and physically challenging activities like climbing, jumping, balancing or rough-and-tumble play.

“Risky play is not about children being pushed beyond their abilities or engaging in unsafe, reckless behaviour.

Nicci shared that looking through the lens of the National Quality Standards there are links to implementing risky play across all areas.

When you look at the NQS it calls out that children have opportunity to take risk in their play, particularly evident in Quality 3 - “it is an expectation educators should be providing play-based learning, including risky play, starting with Standard 3.2.”

Access the recorded session via the 2022 Roadshow webpage.