Outdoor risky play and health-related outcomes in children aged 3-12 years: A mixed-methods systematic review.
Rachel Ramsden, Alethea G Jerebine, Gemma Brailey et al.
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In 30 seconds
This mixed-methods systematic review synthesised evidence on outdoor risky play and health outcomes in children aged 3–12 years. It included 74 studies: 48 quantitative, 19 qualitative and 7 mixed-methods. General risky play and environments that support it were positively associated with outcomes in physical, mental health and well-being, social, cognitive, and risk competence domains. Independent mobility was positively associated with physical activity, while rough-and-tumble play findings were inconsistent except for a negative association with aggression. Overall evidence quality was low-to-moderate, limiting firm conclusions.
Key findings
- The review included 74 studies: 48 quantitative, 19 qualitative and 7 mixed-methods.
- General risky play and supportive environments were positively associated with outcomes across five health domains.
- Independent mobility was positively associated with physical activity; evidence for other health domains was insufficient.
- Rough-and-tumble play evidence was inconsistent, except for a negative association with aggression.
Why it matters
The review brings together evidence across several dimensions of child health and suggests that outdoor risky play may be associated with beneficial outcomes, rather than being relevant only to injury risk. However, the low-to-moderate evidence quality and limited studies in some domains mean these associations should be interpreted cautiously. The findings help identify where stronger research is needed to clarify potential benefits and harms.
What to keep in mind
The authors report low-to-moderate overall evidence quality and too few studies in some health domains to support firm conclusions.