The Importance of Risky Play — and How Forest Schools Nurture It

When people hear the term risky play, they sometimes imagine danger — climbing too high, running too fast, or venturing too far. But in early childhood development, risky play isn’t about recklessness. It’s about giving children the freedom to explore the edges of their comfort zones — to take measured risks, make decisions, and learn from real-world feedback.

What Is Risky Play?

Risky play refers to thrilling and exciting forms of play that involve a perceived risk — the feeling of uncertainty that comes with testing one’s limits. This might mean balancing on a fallen log, climbing a tree, running down a steep hill, or building with real tools. The goal isn’t danger, but growth: children experience what it means to trust their own judgment, assess risk, and build resilience.

Research has shown that risky play supports crucial aspects of development:

• Physical competence: Children build strength, balance, and coordination.

• Emotional regulation: They learn to manage fear and excitement.

• Confidence and independence: Each successful risk teaches self-trust and capability.

• Problem-solving: Real-time decisions — “Can I reach that branch?” or “Is this log stable?” — sharpen critical thinking skills.

Why Risky Play Matters Today

In many modern educational and parenting cultures, children’s opportunities for risk are gradually disappearing. Playgrounds are increasingly overly controlled and standardized, and academic expectations start earlier than ever. Well-intentioned adults hover close, ready to step in before a child stumbles — or even before they try.

But by removing manageable risk, we also remove vital experiences that shape judgment, courage, and resilience. Children learn to be cautious, but not necessarily capable. They lose chances to feel that deep satisfaction of mastering something that once felt just out of reach.

At forest schools like Hidden Valley, we believe that protecting childhood doesn’t mean protecting children from all risk — it means giving them safe, supported opportunities to experience it.

What Scandinavian Schools Teach Us

In countries like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark — where the forest school movement began — risky play is seen as a right, not a liability. Children spend hours outdoors in all seasons, climbing boulders, whittling sticks, crossing creeks, and exploring open terrain.

Teachers in Scandinavian forest schools are trained to support risk rather than eliminate it. They stand back just far enough for the child to lead the experience, while staying close enough to step in if real danger arises. This philosophy of “as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible” recognizes that growth only happens on the edge of comfort.

Risky Play at Hidden Valley Forest School

At Hidden Valley, we see risky play come alive every day in small, powerful moments.

• Walking across a fallen log — balancing, wobbling, and learning how to find steady footing.

• Climbing trees — stretching physical and mental limits, judging how high feels “too high.”

• Exploring our climbing hill — a favorite among our students, where they climb, slide, and strategize their way up and down.

These activities might look simple, but they are profound learning experiences. Every slip, adjustment, and triumphant grin is a child developing the inner tools to navigate challenge — not just in nature, but in life.

The Teacher’s Role: Balancing Freedom and Safety

Supporting risky play doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to safety — it means redefining safety as a shared process. At Hidden Valley, our teachers observe closely, assess the environment, and set clear boundaries: where to climb, what surfaces are slippery, how to move safely in groups.

We don’t say “be careful” — we say, “What’s your plan?”
That simple shift invites children to think, plan, and take ownership of their actions.

By creating a culture of trust and responsibility, we ensure that risky play remains empowering, not hazardous. Children feel both the thrill of adventure and the assurance of guidance — the perfect combination for growth.

Letting Risk Build Resilience

Risky play is not a trend — it’s an essential part of childhood. It teaches lessons no worksheet can: how to listen to your body, respect your limits, manage uncertainty, and try again after a fall. In a world where children’s lives are increasingly structured and screen-filled, these lessons are more important than ever.

At Hidden Valley Forest School, we see daily proof that when children are allowed to climb higher, balance longer, and take smart risks, they also grow braver, wiser, and more capable — in the forest and beyond.