Risk, Challenge and Adventure in the Early Years

What is the difference between ‘risk’ and ‘danger’? What can children learn from taking risks? How can you provide key experiences for children and ensure their safety outdoors?

Young children will naturally seek out challenges and take risks and this is crucial to their overall development. This book clearly explains why children should be given the freedom to take risks and provides practical guidance on how to offer stimulating and challenging outdoor experiences that will extend all areas of children’s learning.

Including examples of activities for all weather conditions across all areas of learning, the book covers:



The pedagogical history of adventure, risk and challenge

Health, wellbeing and keeping safe

The adult role

Risk assessment

Supporting individual children with different needs

Environments that enable challenging and adventurous play

Working with parents and addressing concerns

Observation, planning and assessment This book is essential reading for practitioners and students that wish to provide rich experiences for children that will enable them to become confident and adventurous learners.