Risky Play in Nature-based Education: An on-demand workshop
An on-demand workshop for your next professional development day! A pre-recorded video, facilitator’s guide, and discussion prompts are included.
Goal: To help early childhood educators develop knowledge on the what, why, and how of risky play to support children’s learning.
Duration: 30 minutes to 2 hours (30 minute video runtime; discussion & activities can be as short or as long as you'd like with time suggestions ranging from 20 minutes to 2 hours)
Given the nature of digital downloads, all sales are final and cannot be refunded.
Curious about risky play in your early childhood program, but unsure where to begin and how to do it safely?
The Risky Play On-Demand Workshop can help!
Risky play is powerful for young children’s learning. That is, it can be powerful if it’s encouraged and supported by knowledgeable adults. This course is designed to help educators develop knowledge on the what, why, and how of risky play to support children’s learning. For example, is the play developmentally appropriate? Have we eliminated hazards while still allowing for some risk? What is the best way to talk with children about risk? This course is designed to help educators answer these questions and more!
This course on children’s risky play helps educators learn the core components, benefits, and safety measures in order to facilitate appropriate and beneficial risky play. Dr. Rachel Larimore, an expert in early childhood education, will guide you through learning to distinguish between hazards, risks, and fears. The course will also explore six broad types of risky play and how those are beneficial to children’s physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Finally, the course will provide concrete strategies for supporting children’s risky play through things like site assessments, benefit-risk assessments, and protocol development for higher risk activities.
When you purchase this workshop you’ll receive a downloadable Facilitator’s Guide (PDF) including...
A video link so you can schedule the in-service workshop at a time that works best for you
Prompts to encourage discussions among your team about risky play in your program
Printable worksheets to build on the video content and encourage reflection and discussion within the team including…
Risky Play Terms and Definitions
Site Assessment Template
Benefit Risk Assessment Template
Detailed Benefit Risk Assessment Protocol Template
Certificate of completion so you can document and get credit for the time spent on this professional learning
This video is perfect for educators looking for team development or teacher educators looking for a pre-service teaching tool.
Want to level up this workshop?
Schedule a Live Q&A call with Rachel! A Q&A session with Rachel is an especially high value addition if you are using these courses for a team of educators. You and your team can expect open discussion to address questions, concerns, and thoughts specific to YOUR program. If you’re interested in scheduling, check page 3 of the Facilitator’s Guide for a link to schedule and pay for a 30-minute or 1-hour call.
Watch the trailer:
Meet your instructor
Rachel A. Larimore, Ph.D., is an educator, consultant, speaker, researcher, and author. Her work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. She has written multiple books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning, and Evaluating Nature: Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-based Classrooms in Pre-k Through 3rd Grade. Prior to founding Samara, she spent more than a decade starting and directing one of the first nature-based preschools in the United States. She also serves on the advisory board of the Natural Start Alliance, a professional association supporting nature-based educators.
This course was produced in collaboration with Froebel USA and Match Frame Creative.