Why managed risk in children’s play may build confidence as well as fitness

A review of 74 studies links independent movement and outdoor risky play with higher activity levels, confidence and wellbeing, but researchers say stronger evidence is still needed.

A growing body of research suggests that children may gain more than just enjoyment from climbing, running, balancing and exploring on their own. An analysis led by Australian and international researchers, published on the Scimex newsfeed, reviewed 74 studies involving children aged three to 12 and found a consistent connection between independent movement and higher physical activity levels. The review also found some signs that outdoor risky play can support mental health and wellbeing, although the overall evidence remains patchy and only about a quarter of the studies were judged to be high quality. According to the researchers, the field still needs stronger evidence before firm conclusions can be drawn.

The idea that children benefit from managed risk is also supported by more focused studies. Research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that when children were given loose parts for play, they described risk as something experimental and daring, but also as a source of confidence and a sense of achievement. The study linked that kind of play with autonomy, competence and social connection, suggesting that children are not simply seeking danger but testing limits on their own terms.

Other work has shown that the surroundings matter just as much as the activity itself. A case study in the journal Education Sciences reported that a redesigned outdoor space encouraged a wider range of play among toddlers, including behaviour that educators initially viewed as risky. Researchers found that adult attitudes played a major role in shaping whether children were allowed to test themselves, and that supportive supervision could create room for challenge without shutting play down.

That theme runs through wider research as well. A separate study in Early Childhood Education Journal found that risky play happens both indoors and outdoors, and that environmental features and adult responses influence how often it occurs. Another paper in Early Child Development and Care linked risky play with greater physical activity and stronger wellbeing, while a review in Early Child Development and Care argued that children with and without disabilities can all benefit when caregivers are willing to reframe risk as something that can be constructive rather than simply dangerous. Taken together, the research points to a careful middle ground: children do not need reckless exposure, but they may profit from spaces, supervision and attitudes that let them stretch themselves safely.