Risk in Children’s Adventure Literature examines the way in which adults discuss the reading and entertainment habits of children, and with it the assumption that adventure is a timeless and stable constant whose meaning and value is self-evident. A closer enquiry into British and American adventure texts for children over the past 150 years reveals a host of complexities occluded by the term, and the ways in which adults invoke adventure as a means of attempting to get to grips with the nebulous figure of ‘the child’. Writing about adventure also necessitates writing about risk, and this book argues that adults have historically used adventure to conceptualise the relationship between children and risk: the risks children themselves pose to society; the risks that threaten their development; and how they can be trained to manage risk in socially normative and desirable ways. Tracing this tendency back to its development and consolidation in Victorian imperial romance, and forward through various adventure texts and media to the present day, this book probes and investigates the truisms and assumptions that underlie our generalisations about children’s love for adventure, and how they have evolved since the mid-nineteenth century.

Risk in Children's Adventure Literature examines the way in which adults discuss the reading and entertainment habits of children, and with it the assumption that adventure is a timeless and stable constant whose meaning and value is self-evident. A closer enquiry into British and American adventure texts for children over the past 150 years reveals a host of complexities occluded by the term, and the ways in which adults invoke adventure as a means of attempting to get to grips with the nebulous figure of 'the child'. Writing about adventure also necessitates writing about risk, and this book argues that adults have historically used adventure to conceptualise the relationship between children and risk: the risks children themselves pose to society; the risks that threaten their development; and how they can be trained to manage risk in socially normative and desirable ways. Tracing this tendency back to its development and consolidation in Victorian imperial romance, and forward through various adventure texts and media to the present day, this book probes and investigates the truisms and assumptions that underlie our generalisations about children's love for adventure, and how they have evolved since the mid-nineteenth century.

Risk in Children’s Adventure Literature examines the way in which adults discuss the reading and entertainment habits of children, and with it the assumption that adventure is a timeless and stable constant whose meaning and value is self-evident. A closer enquiry into British and American adventure texts for children over the past 150 years reveals a host of complexities occluded by the term, and the ways in which adults invoke adventure as a means of attempting to get to grips with the nebulous figure of ‘the child’. Writing about adventure also necessitates writing about risk, and this book argues that adults have historically used adventure to conceptualise the relationship between children and risk: the risks children themselves pose to society; the risks that threaten their development; and how they can be trained to manage risk in socially normative and desirable ways. Tracing this tendency back to its development and consolidation in Victorian imperial romance, and forward through various adventure texts and media to the present day, this book probes and investigates the truisms and assumptions that underlie our generalisations about children’s love for adventure, and how they have evolved since the mid-nineteenth century.

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.

Children's free play is full of risk-taking, a fact that frightens many adults who have become risk-averse. Yet many experts feel that this aversion is excessive and even harmful. They point to children's natural capacity for risk-assessment which needs to be developed rather than suppressed in childhood. This Alliance for Childhood publication looks at the value of risk from many angles, including interviews with directors of adventure playgrounds that encourage adventurous play yet have very low accident rates. The central conclusion: Give children genuine risk and they rise to it. They are then prepared to meet life's challenges.

Adventures in Risky Play is Rusty Keeler at his finest. Congenial and provocative, Rusty invites readers to new insight and action as they relate to children at play. When adults increase their tolerance for children's risk-taking, play becomes what it is meant to be - an expression of freedom, exploration, creativity and growth. Navigating risk is a crucial life skill, this book calls on parents and educators to allow, support and celebrate risk, in play.Fun is guaranteed as Rusty takes you on a tour of wild places -- schools, community playgrounds, education centers, forests. From engagement with mud, fire and water to developed anarchy zones and adventure playgrounds in the US and around the world - Rusty celebrates play and makes a compelling argument for adults to step back and let go a little (or a lot), so children can come to understand themselves - and world around them - through the sheer joy of play.