Engagement in risky play: critical ecosystemic factors from parents’ perspective

ABSTRACT

In this study we aimed to explore parents' perceptions, feelings, and experiences regarding risk in children's play, both for those with typical and atypical development, reflecting on factors hindering or prompting the engagement of risky play. Parents with high and low tolerance profiles were selected for the study, based on a previous application of the Tolerance to Risk in Play Scale (TRiPS). A total of 22 participants were interviewed. Themes and categories found in parents' narratives were framed within an ecosystem perspective. The study findings reinforced that barriers to and opportunities for risky play should be considered from a multisystemic viewpoint, taking into account parents' beliefs, actions and profiles at its core. Providing opportunities for risky play was contingent upon the child's intrinsic characteristics, the parents' actions, and contextual and societal factors such as having time, flexible routines, and close contact with nature. Implications for intervention are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Risky play
• parents’ tolerance
• children development
• disability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work is funded by National Funds through the FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the scope of the project UIDP/05198/2020 (Centre for Research and Innovation in Education, inED).

Notes on contributors

Diana Martins

Diana Martins, Independent researcher. MSc in Special Education by the School of Education, Porto Polytechnic, Portugal. BSc in Psychomotor Rehabilitation by the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal.

Mónica Silveira-Maia

Mónica Silveira-Maia, Adjunct Professor at the Department of Special Education and Inclusion at the School of Education, Porto Polytechnic. PhD in Psychology by the Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education of Porto University. BSc in Occupational Therapy by the School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal. Researcher at the Center of Research and Innovation in Education (inED) [Projeto UIDB/05198/2020]. Porto/Portugal.

Bruno Bastos Vieira de Melo

Bruno Bastos Vieira de Melo, Adjunct Professor at Santa Maria Health School. Invited Assistant Professor and Researcher at the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Laboratory, Center for Rehabilitation Research, School of Health of the Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal. PhD in Behaviour and Educational Sciences by the University of Vigo, Spain. Postgraduate in Sensory Integration for Occupational Therapists by the Higher School of Health of Alcoitão, Lisbon, Portugal. BSc in Occupational Therapy by the School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal. Porto/Portugal.