Right mix of risk and safety in playgrounds

* Balancing fun and challenging play opportunities for children with safety was examined at a conference in London organised by the National Children's Bureau (NCB) last week. Anita Franklin, an NCB researcher, looked at evidence of risk and risk management in a report 'Accidents, risk and play in adventure playgrounds in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham'. She found that playworkers, children and parents felt that adventure playgrounds were successful in providing a play environment where children could safely take risks. Only one per cent of attendances at one adventure playground last summer resulted in a recorded incident, with most only involving...