RISKi PLAY - Risk, Injury and Safety in Kids: Population Level Analysis
Risky or adventurous play is a common and enjoyable part of childhood. It includes activities such as climbing trees, moving at speed, exploring new environments and taking on challenges that feel exciting or a little bit scary. These experiences help children to be active, to build confidence and independence, and to develop important skills for managing risk as they grow. Adventurous play can also support emotional wellbeing and may help reduce anxiety. Most importantly, it’s fun!
Despite these benefits, children now spend less time playing adventurously. Many parents and caregivers worry about the possibility of injury, and this can make it harder for children to access opportunities for challenge and exploration. However, very little recent research has examined how and why children are injured during everyday play in the United Kingdom, or whether adventurous play actually increases the likelihood of being hurt.
The RISKi PLAY study will gather information from parents about the types of play their children enjoy, whether their children have been injured, how those injuries happened, and try to understand whether children who play adventurously are more likely to be hurt. The questionnaire has been designed to capture experiences that matter to families and to build a clear picture of the circumstances in which injuries occur across the UK.
RISKi PLAY will address the following overarching research questions
How common is adventurous play among children across the UK
How often do injuries occur during adventurous play in everyday settings
Which factors may influence injury risk, including supervision, child and parent characteristics, neurodiversity and the type of activity.
The questionnaire has been developed with input from children, parents and caregivers to ensure clarity, sensitivity and relevance. Their involvement helps to shape the questions we ask and ensures that the study captures experiences in a way that reflects real family life.
The findings will help families, educators and professionals understand how to support healthy, adventurous play while keeping children safe.
Contact us
You can get in touch with us via email at: Dr Tom Rance - tr519@cam.ac.uk
