Risky Play: An Ethical Challenge - Hardcover

by Øyvind Kvalnes (Author), Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter (Author)

This open access book brings together current childhood research and contemporary ethical theory to draw attention to how children depend upon a scope of action for risky play for their mental and physical development. In many countries, the opportunities for children to play away from adults' close attention have decreased. At both school and home, protection and avoidance of harm take increasing priority. This book draws a distinction between do-good ethics and avoid-harm ethics to highlight ethical tensions and dilemmas encountered by professionals who work with children, and suggests better ways to balance these ethical dimensions in approaching risky play.

Back Jacket

Risky play is perhaps a uniquely tricky topic for educators. This short, engaging, subtly humanistic book brings a sharp ethical eye to this topical yet still underexplored dilemma. Perhaps most importantly, it invites all of us--educators, parents, regulators, and the media--to 'show our workings' to avoid rushing to judgement, but instead to take a thoughtful, balanced approach that maintains a focus on children's long-term growth and development, while respecting the adult duty of care.
--Tim Gill, Independent Scholar and Author of No Fear: Growing Up in a Risk Averse Society (2007) and Urban Playground: How Child-Friendly Planning and Design Can Save Cities (2021)
"This book is an incredible and timely resource on risky play for all readers! Those new to the topic will find a comprehensive introduction. Experts will be challenged with new theory and concepts that have not yet been explored. Along with these exciting ideas, practical insights and wisdom are provided for readers wanting to put these ideas into practice."
--Mariana Brussoni, Director of Human Early Learning Partnership and Professor, University of British Columbia, Canada

This open access book brings together current childhood research and contemporary ethical theory to draw attention to how children depend upon a scope of action for risky play for their mental and physical development. In many countries, the opportunities for children to play away from adults' close attention have decreased. At both school and home, protection and avoidance of harm take increasing priority. This book draws a distinction between do-good ethics and avoid-harm ethics to highlight ethical tensions and dilemmas encountered by professionals who work with children, and suggests better ways to balance these ethical dimensions in approaching risky play.

Øyvind Kvalnes is Professor of Organizational Behavior at BI Norwegian Business School, Norway. His previous English-language publications include Digital Dilemmas (2020), Moral Reasoning at Work (2nd edition 2019), and Fallibility at Work (2017)--all available Open Access.

Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter is Professor in the Department of Physical Education at Queen Maud University College of Early Childhood Education, Norway.

Author Biography

​Øyvind Kvalnes is Professor of Organizational Behavior at BI Norwegian Business School, Norway. His research interests include ethics, leadership, and organizational change and development. His previous English-language publications include Digital Dilemmas (2020), Moral Reasoning at Work (2nd edition 2019), and Fallibility at Work (2017)--all available Open Access.
Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter is Professor in the Department of Physical Education at Queen Maud University College of Early Childhood Education, Norway. Her primary research focus is on children's physical play, outdoor play, and risky/thrilling play among children in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) institutions, well as how to develop physical environments for children's play, development, and learning. She has published in multiple journals and anthologies, and served as an editor of four books and four special journal issues.