Facilitating “risky play” is important for a child’s development. Risky play creates opportunities for children to learn the strengths and limits of their bodies and gain trust in themselves and their unique capabilities. It allows children to engage in decision making and problem solving, which are foundational components of developing positive social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills. MACCP’s educators foster the children’s outdoor play by taking a balanced approach to risk and safety.
 
McNicoll recognizes that bumps, scrapes, and bruises are a typical and necessary part of childhood; they are evidence of development, growth, and children’s increasing confidence in their own abilities, and not evidence of a lack of supervision. As we come to know each child, we can see what they are physically capable of doing and allow them to test their limits by engaging in thrilling and exciting play such as climbing up the slide, balancing on tree stumps, exploring various speeds using tricycles, and jumping from different heights. Risky play keeps children active, and builds confidence, autonomy, resilience, and physical skills.