Produced by PLAYLINK, a registered charity which assists local communities to create adventure playgrounds for children. Established in 1962, PLAYLINK is recognised as the national authority on good practice for play provision of this type. This essential handbook draws on PLAYLINK's 35 years experience with adventure playgrounds, introduces recent changes to legislation and gives guidance on the interpretation of legal responsibilities. It is intende for all those working as play officers, playworkers, playground designers or consultants in supervised play provision, legal advisers and regulatory authorities. It will also be of interst to anyone involved in leisure and recreation management and the design and construction of sports facilities.

Risk and Safety in Play draws on PLAYLINKS 35 years experience with adventure playgrounds and the findings in its three year development project 'Quality Play and Safety.' The text has been widely researched and commented on by playworkers,

As internet use is extending to younger children, there is an increasing need for research focus on the risks young users are experiencing, as well as the opportunities, and how they should cope. With expert contributions from diverse disciplines and a uniquely cross-national breadth, this timely book examines the prospect of enhanced opportunities for learning, creativity and communication set against the fear of cyberbullying, pornography and invaded privacy by both strangers and peers. Based on an impressive in-depth survey of 25,000 children carried out by the EU Kids Online network, it offers wholly new findings that extend previous research and counter both the optimistic and the pessimistic hype. It argues that, in the main, children are gaining the digital skills, coping strategies and social support they need to navigate this fast-changing terrain. But it also identifies the struggles they encounter, pinpointing those for whom harm can follow from risky online encounters. Each chapter presents new findings and analyses to inform both researchers and students in the social sciences and policy makers in government, industry or child welfare who are working to enhance children's digital experiences.

What is the difference between ‘risk’ and ‘danger’? What can children learn from taking risks? How can you provide key experiences for children and ensure their safety outdoors? Young children will naturally seek out challenges and take risks and this is crucial to their overall development. This book clearly explains why children should be given the freedom to take risks and provides practical guidance on how to offer stimulating and challenging outdoor experiences that will extend all areas of children’s learning. Including examples of activities for all weather conditions across all areas of learning, the book covers: The pedagogical history of adventure, risk and challenge Health, wellbeing and keeping safe The adult role Risk assessment Supporting individual children with different needs Environments that enable challenging and adventurous play Working with parents and addressing concerns Observation, planning and assessment This book is essential reading for practitioners and students that wish to provide rich experiences for children that will enable them to become confident and adventurous learners.

"Angela Hanscom is a powerful voice for balance." —Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods In this important book, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook shows how outdoor play and unstructured freedom of movement are vital for children’s cognitive development and growth, and offers tons of fun, engaging ways to help ensure that kids grow into healthy, balanced, and resilient adults. Today’s kids have adopted sedentary lifestyles filled with television, video games, and computer screens. But more and more, studies show that children need “rough and tumble” outdoor play in order to develop their sensory, motor, and executive functions. Disturbingly, a lack of movement has been shown to lead to a number of health and cognitive difficulties, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotion regulation and sensory processing issues, and aggressiveness at school recess break. So, how can you ensure your child is fully engaging their body, mind, and all of their senses? Using the same philosophy that lies at the heart of her popular TimberNook program—that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a regular basis—author Angela Hanscom offers several strategies to help your child thrive, even if you live in an urban environment. Today it is rare to find children rolling down hills, climbing trees, or spinning in circles just for fun. We’ve taken away merry-go-rounds, shortened the length of swings, and done away with teeter-totters to keep children safe. Children have fewer opportunities for unstructured outdoor play than ever before, and recess times at school are shrinking due to demanding educational environments. With this book, you’ll discover little things you can do anytime, anywhere to help your kids achieve the movement they need to be happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

What type of cities do we want our children to grow up in? Car-dominated, noisy, polluted and devoid of nature? Or walkable, welcoming, and green? As the climate crisis and urbanisation escalate, cities urgently need to become more inclusive and sustainable. This book reveals how seeing cities through the eyes of children strengthens the case for planning and transportation policies that work for people of all ages, and for the planet. It shows how urban designers and city planners can incorporate child friendly insights and ideas into their masterplans, public spaces and streetscapes. Healthier children mean happier families, stronger communities, greener neighbourhoods, and an economy focused on the long-term. Make cities better for everyone.

Because young children have a limited understanding of risks that surround them, many adults try to create a risk-free environment for them. Suggesting that this strategy may leave children without the skills to manage risk and may make it difficult for them to judge situations for themselves, this book provides a practical guide showing adults how they can share their skills with young children and teach them about safety in a caring, supervised environment. Chapter 1 discusses the use of risk assessment in early childhood settings. Chapter 2 examines what and how children learn about safety from birth to age 8 years. Chapter 3 discusses how adults can deal with accidents in a way that will support children's learning, focusing on a problem-solving approach and providing emotional support, while chapter 4 provides strategies adults can use to share their experience with children, including coaching and sharing skills. Chapter 5 details the opportunities for learning self-care and caring skills in early childhood settings, including hygiene, basic first aid, and fire and heat. Chapter 6 deals with ways of providing balance between safety and a decent challenge in physical play. Chapter 7 discusses the use of tools in early childhood activities such as crafts and gardening and ways to increase children's ability to take responsibility. Chapter 8 examines child safety during travel and their increasing ability for independent travel. Chapter 9 discusses sharing responsibility with parents regarding children's safety. Chapter 10 presents staff activities for ensuring safe, enjoyable play. (KB)