At PlayEquip, we take a design-led approach to playgrounds, which means we need to be particularly conscious of the role that risk plays in our work. As a company that champions innovative playground design, we believe that embracing challenge is essential to creating meaningful and enriching play experiences. However, we also recognise that safety concerns, regulations, and client perspectives shape the way risk is integrated into our designs.
The challenge for us as designers is striking the right balance—ensuring play areas stimulate growth and adventure while also mitigating unnecessary hazards. This balance is especially important as we aim to drive positive change in the industry, moving away from overly sanitised play spaces towards exciting, engaging, and developmentally beneficial environments.
Incorporating elements of risk into playground design is essential for fostering children’s development, resilience, and ability to assess and manage challenges. While safety remains a priority, understanding the benefits of risky play and implementing thoughtful design strategies can create enriching environments that promote growth while mitigating potential injuries.
The Importance of Risk in Play
Risky play, characterised by thrilling and challenging activities, offers children opportunities to test their limits, explore uncertainties, and develop vital life skills. Engaging in such play has been linked to numerous developmental benefits
- Resilience and Confidence: Children learn to cope with failures and setbacks, building emotional strength and self-assurance.
- Risk Assessment Skills: Through firsthand experiences, children develop the ability to evaluate and navigate risks, a crucial skill for real-life situations.
- Physical Development: Challenging play enhances motor skills, coordination, and overall physical health.
- Creativity and Problem-Solving: Unstructured play encourages imagination and the development of innovative solutions to overcome obstacles.
Research supports these benefits. For instance, a study highlighted that risky play helps children develop resilience, executive functioning skills, self-confidence, and risk-assessment abilities. Risky Play
Insights from Tim Gill
Tim Gill, a prominent advocate for children’s play, emphasises the necessity of allowing children to experience risk in their play environments. He argues that overprotective playgrounds can hinder development, stating that “playgrounds have for decades been shaped by a zero risk mindset, with any injury seen as a sign of failure.” Gill advocates for a balanced approach, where the benefits of risk are weighed against potential hazards, allowing children to engage in meaningful play that promotes growth. Rethinking Childhood – Portobello Institute
Designing Playgrounds with Risk in Mind
To integrate beneficial risk into playgrounds while ensuring safety, designers and planners can consider the following strategies:
1. Diverse and Challenging Equipment
Incorporate equipment that offers varying levels of difficulty, such as climbing structures, balance beams, and zip lines. These elements encourage children to push their boundaries and develop new skills.
2. Natural Elements
Utilise natural features like water, rocks, trees and planting to create dynamic play environments. Natural landscapes provide unpredictable terrains that enhance exploration and adaptability. The introduction of topography can make all the difference
3. Graduated Challenges
Design play areas with progressive challenges that cater to different age groups and abilities. This approach allows children to build confidence as they transition to more demanding activities.
4. Loose Parts Play
Provide movable materials such as logs, tyres, and ropes that children can manipulate. This encourages creativity, collaboration, and decision-making as they construct their own play scenarios.
5. Risk-Benefit Assessments
Adopt a risk-benefit approach to playground design, where potential risks are evaluated against the developmental benefits they offer. This method ensures that the value of challenging play is recognised and preserved.
Gill supports this approach, noting that “risk/benefit assessment as a process” is crucial in creating balanced play environments.
Mitigating Injuries While Embracing Risk
While integrating risk is vital, implementing measures to minimise serious injuries is equally important:
1. Impact-Absorbing Surfaces
Install appropriate surfacing materials, such as rubber mulch or sand, beneath equipment to cushion falls and reduce injury severity. Use rubberised surfaces only in areas of very high friction or footfall i.e. underneath swings, around slides and roundabouts.
2. Clear Signage
Provide clear instructions and warnings where necessary to inform children and caregivers about potential hazards and appropriate equipment use.
3. Regular Maintenance
Conduct routine inspections and maintenance to ensure equipment remains in safe working condition, addressing wear and tear promptly.
4. Supervision and Education
Educate caregivers and children about the value of risk in play and encourage appropriate supervision that allows for independence while ensuring safety.
Navigating Play Safety Regulations
In the UK, playgrounds are subject to safety standards outlined in EN 1176. These regulations provide guidelines on playground equipment design, installation, and maintenance to ensure safety. However, some aspects of these standards can be subjective, requiring interpretation based on specific contexts and the attitudes of stakeholders towards risk. It is important to work closely with a registered RPII play safety inspector throughout the design and development of a playground. All stakeholders need to be on the same page to avoid misunderstandings.
Gill observes that “playgrounds have for decades been shaped by a zero risk mindset,” suggesting that strict adherence to safety standards without considering the benefits of risk can lead to overly sanitised play environments. Therefore, it’s essential to balance compliance with regulations and the incorporation of beneficial risk.
Client Attitudes Towards Risk
The perception of risk varies among clients, influencing playground design decisions. Some may prioritise safety and liability concerns, leading to more controlled environments, while others may recognise the developmental advantages of risk and advocate for more adventurous designs. Engaging clients in discussions about the benefits of risky play and presenting evidence-based research can help align their perspectives with best practices in playground design.
Conclusion
Integrating risk into playgrounds is not about compromising safety but about recognising the critical role that challenging play has in children’s development. By thoughtfully designing play environments that balance risk and safety, we can create spaces that not only protect children but also empower them to grow, learn, and thrive.
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