Risky Play In The Classroom | Playschool in Abu Dhabi
Spring Fields Nursery is the best play school in Abu Dhabi. Risks are everywhere and being able to manage them appropriately is a life skill. Risky play means providing opportunities for children to encounter or create uncertain, unpredictable and potential hazards as part of their play. Of course, this doesn’t mean putting children in danger of serious harm. Something as simple as learning how to walk is a natural risky learning moment that often comes with bruises, a few tumbles and a handful of falls.
Risky play is a natural part of children’s play and children, as we may already know, tend to push their boundaries and challenge themselves to do things, without the help of an adult. We often see this outdoors. How many times have we seen a child climbing up the slide instead of using the stairs and a friend imitating the action? Hanging upside down on monkey bars and climbing trees are other examples amongst many. Of course, this often gives us a bit of anxiety, however, our job is to be good role models and provide children with opportunities to take calculated risks. Our positivity can go a long way and if we find an act unsafe, our role is to guide children as to how they can do something safely, instead of asking them to stop the risk entirely.
Before we continue any further, let us tell you what risky play isn’t!
Risky Play Is Not:
- Letting children do whatever they want
- Standing too far from a child when they are trying something new
- Not stepping in when a child is doing something that is clearly unsafe
Risk-taking is beneficial to children and we only wish more parents and educators understood this. Allowing children to jump from heights, balance and hang upside down are all essential skills that aid their development. It helps children’s confidence, self-regulation, independence and so much more.
Risky play also helps children understand cause and effect, as well as spatial awareness. While children are engaging in risky play, they are constantly learning and developing many new and emerging skills.
How, Can We Facilitate Risky Play Within The Classroom?
Risky play can happen both indoors, as well as outdoors. Adults are often the ones that try to limit risks because of our fear of what can happen. Let’s be honest, how many times have we heard a colleague saying, “Don’t do that!” “That’s too high!” This is the stigma that we should strive to break free from. Our purpose is to use positive language that promotes and encourages calculated risky play. “Do you feel safe?” “How high do you want to go?” The scaffolded questions will give the child a chance to consider what will happen next and how their decisions will influence what they do.
Now, that we have managed to get our team of educators on board, how should we reassure the parents that are concerned about risky play?
Here are some of the techniques that we use to help parents understand the purpose behind this further.
- Define risky play for them
- Explain how children’s play requires some element of risk-taking
- Reassure parents that children are always supervised
- Explain the environment set up and the risks are age-appropriate and developmentally necessary
- Provide examples of other successful risky play opportunities that the children have been involved in
Risky play teaches children about their own limits and by carefully promoting risky play, we are offering children an environment where they have the freedom to explore, learn and play, as they develop into confident young learners.
Our Specialities as Best Nursery
Spring Fields Nursery Abu Dhabi is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for young children. Our nursery is equipped with state-of-the-art safety and security features, including CCTV monitoring, fire alarms, and secure access protocols to ensure that children are protected at all times.
We believe in creating a stimulating environment that encourages children’s curiosity, creativity, and development. Our nursery has a wide range of age-appropriate toys, books, and learning materials, as well as opportunities for imaginative play and outdoor exploration. Our experienced and qualified staff is dedicated to providing quality care and education for young children. They are caring, patient, and attentive to the needs of each child, helping to promote their growth and development.
At Spring Fields Nursery Abu Dhabi, we recognize the importance of communication between parents and staff. We provide regular updates to parents, including daily reports, progress reports, and parent-teacher conferences. Our open-door policy ensures that parents can be involved in their child’s learning and development at all times.
We understand the critical role that health and nutrition play in a child’s development. Our nursery provides healthy meals and snacks, as well as opportunities for physical activity and exercise. We also have policies in place to prevent the spread of illness and promote good hygiene practices, ensuring that children stay healthy and safe while attending our nursery.
At Spring Fields Nursery Abu Dhabi, we are committed to providing the best possible care and education for young children. Our focus on safety, stimulation, trained staff, communication, and health and nutrition makes us one of the best nurseries in Abu Dhabi.
