Playing Under Watchful Eyes: A Case Study on How Adult Perceptions of Risk Shape Children's Play in Kindergarten

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21814/childstudies.6758

Keywords:

Children, risky play, parents perceptions, educational team perceptions

Abstract

Children’s play nurtures self-confidence, resilience, and risk management, however, concerns about safety and cultural norms often limit these opportunities, affecting children’s development. This study explores how early childhood educators and parents perceive risk and danger and how these views influence supervision. Data were collected through interviews with 4 practitioners, 5 support staff, and 16 parents, alongside observations of play interactions regarding 47 children. Tools included the “Children’s Physical Environment Rating Scale” (CPERS) for outdoor spaces, a questionnaire on risk perceptions, and play interaction observations. The institution’s CPERS score of 1.80 indicated positive play experiences but highlighted safety concerns. Educators distinguished risk from danger, recognizing that mild risks build resilience, yet restricted some areas and materials. Parents valued outdoor play for its health, creativity, and social benefits but cited barriers like traffic and limited spaces. Overemphasis on safety creates restrictive environments, emphasizing the need to balance safety with healthy risk-taking.

Author Biographies

  • André Pombo, School of Education of the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Portugal

    André Pombo is an Invited Adjunct Professor at the Lisbon Education School of the Polytechnic of Lisbon, Portugal. He teaches curricular units of motor development, pedagogy and didactics of physical education. He holds a Ph.D. in Motor Behaviour by the University of Lisbon, Portugal; a MSc in Sports Management by the University of Lisbon, Portugal; and a BSc in Physical Education by the Lusófona University of Humanities and Technology, Portugal. Research interests: Motor Development, Motor Competence and Physical Fitness.

  • Carina Rodrigues, CIEC | Institute of Education | University of Minho

    Carina Rodrigues is Professor in the ESELx - Lisbon School of Education (Portugal). She has a PhD in Literature at the University of Aveiro. She holds a Master's Degree in Educational Sciences from the same University and a Degree in Preschool Education from the Coimbra Education School. She is a researcher/full member of the CIEC (University of Minho, Braga) and a collaborator member of the CLLC (University of Aveiro), the Galician Research Groups LITER21 and ELOS (Asociación Galego Portuguesa de Investigadores en Literatura Infantil y X/Juvenil, ANILIJ Section), and the Research Group IMAGO (University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain). She is the author of several articles, both in Portugal and abroad, in the field of Children's Literature and reading promotion and education.

  • Rita Cordovil, School of Education of the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Portugal

    Rita Cordovil is an Assistant Professor with aggregation at the Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, University of Lisbon (FMH-UL). She teaches Development, Motor Control and Learning and is a member of the Motor Behaviour Laboratory and of CIPER (BioLad group) in FMH. She holds a PhD in Human Kinetics (2010), a Master in Sport Psychology (2005), and a degree in Sport Science (1996) (all from FMH). She was the vice-coordinator of the Master in Child Motor Development. In the past, she was a physical education teacher in different primary and secondary schools in the area of Lisbon. Research interests: Motor Development, Motor Competence, Motor Learning, Perception and Action, Child Safety, Risky Play, Play Environments, Independent Mobility.

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Published

15-01-2026

Issue

No. 8 (2026)

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 André Pombo, Carina Rodrigues, Ana Rita Cardoso, Jessica Aguiar, Rita Cordovil

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Playing Under Watchful Eyes: A Case Study on How Adult Perceptions of Risk Shape Children’s Play in Kindergarten. (2026). Child Studies, 8, 59-88. https://doi.org/10.21814/childstudies.6758

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