Influencing Practitioners Concerns for Children's Safety to the Effectiveness of an Outdoor Learning - Dissertation Example

Research Findings
In past years people regarded risks as a natural process of growth and development but gradually with changing times, taking risks and letting children adapt to risky environments have become unacceptable. And if children are permitted to play outdoors then few things are pre-ensured to impart a safe and secured environment to all children.

These mandatory things may comprise of:
• Controlled environment is set up
• Security and safety is assured
• Standards and Guidelines prescribed by UK Legislation are adhered to.

To understand the viewpoint of children regarding outdoor play, focus groups, and interviews, etc were conducted. In the intervention, it was found that children actually preferred playing in the challenging environment due to varied reasons. Some find it interesting as they get their individual space, they feel more responsible and mature and above all, there is no one to guide or control them. They all love freedom which otherwise is difficult to attain.

When children were asked 'Why you do like playing where no one sees you?' they replied due to:
• Secrecy
• Challenging and scary environment
• Risky Play

It was also found that children are aware of the probable dangers they may encounter and are conscious enough to overcome them as well. When they were asked 'Do you sometimes jump off the swing?', children clearly replied they know that might get hurt and needed to be careful because it is dangerous. Use of appliances like hammer etc it also perilous hence they must avoid it. Children take immense pleasure in performing risky tasks though they know that it might lead to injury like bumping into each other, playing fast slides, bikes, tools, swings, etc.

The deduction that can be made from the above interaction was that children must be allowed to perform activities that they desire but must be thoroughly guided and made known to all possible pros and cons of risky plays so that they are conscious while performing those tasks and activities (Sandseter, E. B, 2007).

The essential elements needed are:
Practitioners hold a different viewpoint regarding risk and outdoor plays. They believe that too much protection and fortification from risk actually deters development and growth in children. Out of the 31 respondents who intervened, 61.3 % supported that it is essential for children to play outdoors. The findings clearly state that risk-taking must be encouraged through outdoor activities as it would facilitate children in accessing difficulty levels in the later stages of their lives. They should be exposed to difficult situations so that they learn to deal with them. ‘Outdoor play ‘and ‘deep play’ activities help a child to develop personality traits, however, risk must be initiated in a controlled environment where the level of risks are negotiated in regard to the individual potential and capacity of a child (Wheway, R, date unknown).

The benefits of outdoor play as per the practitioners are:
• Active explorers
• Increased concentration
• Physical Development
• Skill Development
• Good Health
• Fun and Frolic
• Getting accustomed to changing weather conditions
Factors that can prevent children from outdoors
• Unfavorable Climatic Changes
• Health Concern
• Legal Requirements
• Safety Issues
• Accountability
• Television, computers, mobile phones, etc
• Lack of Facilities
• Lack of Qualified Practitioner’s
Practitioners encourage risk-taking to an extent by which the environment helps a child in:

Risks events like balancing were encouraged by practitioners and acknowledged & appreciated when successful attempts were made. On the whole, when a controlled and safe environment under consistent supervision is extended to children, risky outdoor plays can be encouraged and full exposure to little ones must be made for their holistic development (Cooper, J, 2000). The findings ultimately reveal that children are less inclined towards restricted and constrained environments and like exploring their potential in open and challenging spaces. They must be encouraged to take calculated risks that can be controlled and prevented if possible (Gill, 2007). They should be encouraged to get themselves adapt to all difficult situations that they might combat in the near future that makes them confident and self-assured.