This book is the first of two volumes that provide an international snapshot of the contemporary state of outdoor risky play. Utilising a range of voices, it brings together perspectives from the United States of America, Australia, England, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, Ireland, Finland, Turkey, Italy, Canada, and South Africa, to explore issues such as the enablers and opportunities afforded by risky outdoor play. With diminished opportunities for children to engage in free play in the great outdoors and connect with nature, there has never been a more important time to examine this topic in greater detail. By unifying voices from across the globe, this book seeks to empower each child’s right to learn and develop naturally in risky outdoor play.
Outdoor risky play a wildly successful and growing movement across the
globe.- Playful learning landscapes in the united states encouraging
intellectual and social risk in everyday spaces.- The pendulum swings
developing a healthy risk appetite for outdoor play adventurous learning and
child brain development.- Maximising project sustainability the children and
nature outdoor learning programme in england.- Exploring the impact of
national health and safety legislation in new zealand on childrens play
opportunities at school.- Making progress in outdoor play among preschools in
highly urbanised Singapore.- Naturkraft a project to increase nature
connectedness among families in finland.- A cross cultural comparative study
on turkish and german parents attitudes towards childrens risky play from
nature based preschools.- May we be peaceful systems change through daily
practice.- Shifting perspectives what we risk by limiting access to outdoor
education in south africa.
Professor Tonia Gray teaches in the School of Education and a senior researcher in the Centre for Educational Research and the World Leisure Centre for Excellence, Western Sydney University, Australia. She has been an educator for over 40 years, training pre-service teachers for their impending pedagogical career. As a researcher, teacher-educator, and curriculum developer of Outdoor Education and Health/Physical Education, her transdisciplinary research explores humannature relationships and their impact on health and well-being along with risk-taking in outdoor education. Tonias wide-ranging scholarship includes nature-based learning and the intersectional examination of gender leadership. She is a past chair of the Australian Tertiary Outdoor Educators Network (2018-2022) and co-editor of the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. In 2014, Tonia received the prestigious Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT) for excellence in outdoor experiential education; and in 2019 received the Association of Experiential Educations Distinguished Researcher of the Year.
Dr Marion Sturges is an experienced educator of 34 years. She has worked extensively across all educational sectors. Currently Marion works with preservice teachers and academics as the Director of Program (primary teaching) at Western Sydney University. Marion has led in numerous research projects working collaboratively with other researchers and educators. The focus of these projects is working with marginalised members of the community, including young children, people with disability, and women to ensure their rights are met and exploring place based pedagogy. She is passionate about the importance of children engaging in the play in the outdoors. Her PhD situated in Australian preschools drew on the Child Friendly City framework in exploring how a place can support or inhibit childrens opportunities to participate. When not working, Marion enjoys local bushwalks in her beloved Blue Mountains.
Jaydene Barnes is a lecturer in early childhood and primary education at Western Sydney University. She researches in childrens play, teaching pedagogies to facilitate dialogue, connection and meaningful engagement in the early years, culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogies, early literacy development, voice, access to early childhood education for families experiencing disadvantage and pre-service teacher education. Her teaching at Western Sydney University is closely aligned with her research areas in Professional Experience, Literacy (Birth-12 years) and Play focused subjects. In her current role at Western Sydney University Jaydene is an Academic Program Advisor for the Early Childhood/Primary teaching programs. Jaydenes PhD focuses on play based learning in Australian primary schools.
