At MOE, we not only have years of experience designing, selling and installing educational equipment but have have invaluable practical insight rom running our own Treehouse Club Forest School nurseries and preschools across Essex. One area that comes up time and again with among educators and parents is risky play—mainly, how can a setting can practice it safely and effectively.
What is Risky Play?
Risky play involves activities where children encounter a degree of challenge, uncertainty, or controlled risk. This can include climbing, balancing, constructing dens, or using loose parts and tools. For practitioners, the key is creating environments where these activities can take place safely while still offering a meaningful challenge that encourages development. The equipment and layout of your setting play a vital role in making this possible.
Designing Environments for Risky Play
1. Indoor Equipment that Offers Challenge
Weather and space constraints mean that many nurseries must adapt indoor areas to provide adventurous play. We'll always advocate for going outdoors, but the right indoor equipment can replicate the challenges of outdoor play safely if needs must!
Climbing frames allow children to explore height and develop coordination. Our climbing frames are largely designed for the wear and tear of outdoor use, but space-allowing, these can be installed indoors such as at the Gesher School in Harrow.
Balance beams and soft mats provide opportunities for controlled risk-taking while ensuring safety.
Moveable equipment and loose parts encourage creativity, problem-solving, and spatial awareness.
2. Outdoor and Forest School Settings
Outdoor spaces are naturally suited to risky play. Forest School-inspired areas, like those we have at The Treehouse Club, enable children to navigate uneven terrain, climb low-level trees, or handle natural materials. For nurseries, this can be supported by:
- Low climbing structures and rope ladders.
- Den-building kits and modular natural play equipment.
- Sand, water and mud areas that can be adapted for different skill levels.
3. Flexible, Age-Appropriate Design
A successful risky play environment balances challenge with safety. At MOE, we recommend:
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Equipment that can be adapted to different ages and abilities.
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Clear zones for climbing, balancing, and creative construction. Try to keep these areas clearly defined by using play mats or rugs.
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Soft-fall surfaces and rounded edges to reduce injury risk without limiting exploration.
Supporting Practitioners
Risky play isn’t just about the children—it’s about giving staff the tools and environment to lead challenging activities confidently. Well-chosen equipment allows practitioners to:
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Supervise multiple children effectively while maintaining safety.
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Introduce gradually more difficult challenges that suit different abilities.
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Encourage independent risk assessment in children through structured environments. By creating a 'zone' for climbing for example you encourage children to be aware of their surroundings and recognise that certain activities should be confined to certain areas.
Managing Safety without Removing Challenge
Practitioner confidence is essential. Risky play should never mean uncontrolled risk; it’s about managing risks intelligently. This includes thorough risk assessments, age-appropriate activities, and reliable equipment designed for safety and versatility. With the right tools and training (and equipment you can trust!), nurseries can offer children enriching challenges while maintaining peace of mind for staff and parents alike.
MOE in Action
By designing environments and selecting equipment thoughtfully, nurseries can provide engaging, controlled challenges that support practitioners in delivering adventurous play every day. With MOE, settings gain not only the equipment but also the expertise to make risky play a safe, sustainable, and exciting part of daily learning.
