As winter is almost here and the snow starting to appear, children are always thrilled with the numerous types of play they can have. In December, we did not have a lot of snow but enough to cover our hill behind the school. Our before and after school program group was excited to stay outside playing and did not even want to go inside, not being bothered by the cold or lack of light.
We have a small hill, and risky play can be entertaining. However, it can look a little scary for some children, and sometimes, even for adults. It also happened within our group; some children were scared in the beginning to go down the hill and slide in the snow. In this moment, it was possible to observe how friendship played a big part during this risky play. As the group has been together for a few months, the children have built a positive relationship, which during this type of play, comes to the surface through words of encouragement and pride.
The children divided themselves into smaller groups when they were on the hill. While walking around them, I was able to hear and see how they were helping each other and expressing their happiness whenever their peers overcame their fears and accomplished a goal. Even the ones who did not join any groups, like Nathan, helped the others when needed. Every time a child went down the hill, it was challenging to go up again as the snow started to form a thin slippery surface; then, Nathan showed the others how to go back up without slipping down again, giving tips such as “Step firm and do not try to run, walk normally.”
Risky play can be an excellent tool for children to learn their limits, deal with their fears, develop their confidence as well as motor and coping skills, becoming resilient people who can handle risks. It is also suitable for developing teamwork, as children can work together collaborating to overcome challenges. Therefore, for our before and after school program, throughout the winter, the children will be able to continue to engage in risky play during outdoor time, continuing to develop some necessary skills for their future lives.
