Playing it safe? (2018)

There is growing recognition of the benefits of outdoor play experiences with a degree of risk for children of all ages and abilities. However, their opportunities for play are being limited by concerns about risk and liability in many countries. At the same time, many urban environments contain significant threats to children’s safety, health and well-being. Attitudes to play and safety vary widely in different countries and social and cultural contexts. In some countries and contexts a highly protective mindset (sometimes called helicopter parenting) has emerged. Alongside this, some countries have seen the growth of bureaucratic and risk averse public safety policies and procedures, partly driven by concerns about litigation. By contrast in some countries, regulation policy and practice may be patchy.