(PS2): The Opportunities of Risk (2 hours ECE-TRIS credit)
Training Description
Providing appropriate opportunities for children to understand, 
identify, navigate and experience risk through play is a necessary part of healthy child development- This workshop helps participants understand the critical difference between hazard and risk and how to apply that understanding to outdoor play environments. Through media presentations, small group activities and large group conversations participants will gain knowledge that can be put to immediate use in providing and managing children in play that allows for risk without compromising safety.
Training Topics
- What is play-based “risk” and how does it differ from “hazard” in outdoor play environments
- How children benefit from appropriate exposure to risk in their play environments
- How to develop a safety culture that embraces appropriate risk while eliminating hazard
- Evidence-based research about what is and what is not risky
- Engaging the long-view of risk across development compared to risk-in-the-moment
- Shifting from a risk assessments to a risk-benefit assessments
- Understanding safety standards for outdoor play environments
Training Objectives
Participants will:
- Be able to describe risk and how it differs from hazard
- Identify three benefits of providing appropriate opportunities that are supported by research
- Name three on-line resources that can provide additional information about risk in play
- Describe three ways that appropriate risk opportunities support healthy child development
- Cite five outdoor play safety considerations that promote acceptable risk
- Describe and be able to complete a simple risk-benefit assessment
- Use photographs to assess and discuss play opportunities that incorporate appropriate risk
- Identify and design one new outdoor play opportunity that supports appropriate risk
How does this training relate to early childhood education?
Providing outdoor play environments that engage children in appropriate opportunities to experience risk supports healthy child development. This training provides teachers and administrators with knowledge and skills that will help them provide opportunities for children to understand, identify, navigate and experience risk without compromising a commitment to safety.
For more information on costs and scheduling click here.
