Contents Preface ix Comments From Megan Zeni ix Comments From Mariana Brussoni xi How This Book Is Organized xiii Part I: What Is Risky Play? 1. Why Is Outdoor Play Important for Children? 3 What Happened to Play? 4 What About Recess? From Theory to Practice 6 What Is Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL)? 7 Systems Change Recommendation 7 Chapter Summary 8 2. Why Is Risky Play Important for Children? 9 Risks Are Different From Hazards: From Theory to Practice 12 Guidelines for All Staff 13 Chapter Summary 16 3. Why Are Outdoor Learning and Risky Play in Schools Important for Children? 17 Engagement With Learning 18 Five Pathways to Mental Health and Well-Being 19 Executive Function 21 Academic Achievement 22 Why Outdoor Risky Play at Home Is Not Enough 23 Risky Play in Schools: From Theory to Practice 24 Introducing Core Instructional Routines 25 Chapter Summary 29 4. Should Schools Worry About Injuries During Risky Play? 30 It's Safer Than You Think: From Research to Practice 31 Create Yes Spaces for Children's Risky Play 33 Chapter Summary 36 Part II: Planning for and Implementing Outdoor Risky Play 5. Risky Play and Academic Learning 39 Pedagogical Choices That Support Risky Play 40 Emergent Learning 46 Pedagogies of Place 47 Chapter Summary 48 6. Access to Risky Play in Schools 49 Planning for OPAL 49 Benefit-Risk Assessments 53 When Risks Become Hazards 54 Chapter Summary 55 7. Planning for Risky Play 56 Planning With Core Instructional Routines 56 Gathering Spaces: The Campfire 57 Spaces for Social Learning: The Watering Hole 62 Spaces for Quiet Reflection and Alone Time: The Cave 66 Growing Spaces: Life Spaces 71 Chapter Summary 76 8.

School Gardens 77 Risky Play in School Gardens 78 Mud Kitchens 82 Chapter Summary 86 9. Risky Play and Loose Parts 87 Improving Affordances 88 Introducing Yes Spaces and Navigating Consent 93 Navigating Shared Resources 94 The Importance of Time 96 Chapter Summary 97 Part III: Risky Play Issues, Challenges, and Recommendations 10. Perceived and Real Barriers for Risky Play in Schools 101 Safety Is a Feeling 101 What the Research Says About OPAL Barriers 103 Perceived Barriers to Risky Play in Schools 105 Real Concerns to Navigate 110 Chapter Summary 112 11. The Importance of Mentorship 114 Guidelines to Get You Started 115 Chapter Summary 116 12. Risky Play FAQs 117 How Do I Make Time for OPAL? My Day Is Already So Full 117 How Do I Keep the Children on Task? They Think Being Outdoors Is Extra Recess! 118 How Can I Justify to Colleagues That Learning Is Happening When It Looks Like We Play All Day? 119 My Class Is Really Challenging This Year. How Can I Take Them Outdoors? 119 Final Thoughts 120 References 123 Index 137 About the Authors 143.