Risk and play – A literature review

This literature review accompanies the research carried out for Playday 2008. The theme this year is Give us a go!, which aims to give children the opportunity to experience more adventurous and challenging forms of play, and to counteract the apparent ‘cotton wool culture.’

The literature review looks at risk-taking play, and aims to provide a balanced account of the empirical research and expert opinion. The objectives of the research were to assess whether or not children wish to take risks and what effects this may or may not have on their well-being; to look at risk management in play; and to assess possible trends in children’s opportunities to take risks in play.