Four Factors of Responsible Nature Play

As seen in the summer edition of Playground Professionals magazine, here is my take on nature play.

Four Factors of Responsible Nature Play

By Peter Dargatz

The sounds of children playing filled the air. Besides an occasional trip home for a snack or bathroom break,
their entire day was spent outside. Climbing trees. Catching critters. Living life. And without an adult in sight.
Adults often look back on these days of nature play as some of the best days of their lives.

Sadly, those days of nature play are few and far between for most of today's generation. Many questions exist.
Who is to blame for the loss of these opportunities? Is it our reliance (and often over reliance) to be constantly
entertained through some type of screen? Are adult caregivers worried about the appearance of looking
apathetic or irresponsible when it comes to supervising their children? Is “unstructured” a scary term? Does the
fear of litigation, a loss of control, or societal dangers (perceived or legitimate) hold play back? Have these days
of nature play disappeared forever? Is there any way to bring them back in the world we live today?

In a word. Yes. Under one condition.

Let the kids lead. 

But how? Put away the bubble wrap. Provide clear expectations. Let the children explore, get dirty, and take
risks. We survived. They will too. In fact, taking away the opportunity to lead nature play and experience nature is
stunting children’s creativity, hindering their problem-solving capabilities, and ignoring necessary skills important
to their physical, social, and emotional development. 

Responsible nature play provides countless benefits. But before jumping into some serious nature play, four
factors need to be considered. 

“Unstructured” Fallacy

The word ”unstructured” is misleading. Nature play is not uncontrollable chaos. In fact, it is quite the opposite.
When led by children, nature play has intense flexibility and organization, even though the untrained adult eye
might initially see it as a free for all. Rather than use the erroneous term of “unstructured,” try emergent or
child-led. A tweak in terminology can go a long way. Similar to scaffolding in a traditional classroom, parents can
experience nature play right alongside their children. As a child becomes more experienced with their
environment, the adults will be able to lead less and observe more. Eventually, a child with an array of nature
play experiences will earn the trust of their caregiver and should be given the freedom and right  to be the
director of their own play. Observant adults will appreciate the structure that exists in “unstructured” play.

Risk vs. Hazard

Ticks and sticks, two words that cause serious adult anxiety. Risky? Sure. But true nature play requires risk.
Children need risk and thrive when given the opportunity to experience it. Their ability to assess risk only grows
and gains credibility when nurtured and practiced as independently as possible. Even then, a child’s self
assessment skills involving risk are vastly underrated. Adults feel the need to protect our children. Even with the
best intentions, adults paving the way for every move their child makes does not equate to protecting them.  It’s
impossible (and irresponsible) to eliminate every risk for children. Hazards, however, need to be discovered and
removed. Understanding the difference between risk and hazards and developing that understanding with
children is an imperative.

Missed Opportunities

Dirt. Water. Weather. I call these the three misrepresented elements of nature play. Unfortunately, while
attempting to be proactive problem-solvers, adults may inhibit the magic of nature play by purposely avoiding
these elements. Avoidance is not nearly as beneficial as preparedness. Kids like getting dirty and believe it or
not, dirt and mud offer health benefits. Remember, dirt doesn't hurt. Water play can be risky. This is a prime
example of understanding the difference between risk and hazard. If only a risk, get wet because it's a scientific
fact that water will dry. Playing in perfect weather is ideal, but being engaged in nature play in all that weather
encourages new perspectives and instills appreciation of everything nature offers us. There is no such thing as
bad weather, only bad clothing.

To Pick or Not To Pick

Nature play doesn't need to always follow a straight line. Kids (and adults) like to go off trail and explore.
Obviously, when playing in a space outside of one’s own yard, the expectations of that location should be
respected. However, when able, experiencing nature off trail allows for new sensory experiences that bring play
to the next level. Kids love picking flowers. They treasure trailblazing. They enjoy experimenting with a branch’s
dexterity. Going off trail is memorable and meaningful, but it is also controversial. Do the risks of going off trail
outweigh the benefits? Are there hazards? Is the area in question ecologically vulnerable? Will the actions and
activities associated with going off trail leave lasting ecological impacts on the land? With some common sense
and some basic education about respect for the environment, going off trail is an excellent element in responsible
nature play.

Responsible nature play is not simply opening the door and sending children outside until the street lights come
back on, but it is a collaborative effort between children and adults. Mountains of research prove that there should
be no debate on the value of nature play in healthy whole child development. In presentations, I often refer to
nature play as play on steroids. It takes the positive benefits of play to the next level.

When these four factors are understood, practiced, and practiced again, children will once again be trusted to
climb trees, catch critters, and live life under the guidance of Mother Nature and their own imaginations.