"Vi kan inte packa in allt i bubbelplast" : En studie om förskollärares syn på riskfylld lek i förskolans utomhusmiljö

Sammanfattning: From previous experiences, different perceptions of risky play have been noticed. This study therefore aims to shed light on the early childhood education center (ECEC) teachers’ approach to and perceptions of risky play in ECEC outdoor environment. In order to make approaches and perceptions visible, nine semistructured interviews have been conducted with ECEC teachers. The semistructured interviews and the study are based on the socio-cultural perspectivewhere the concepts of proximal development zone, scaffolding and mediating tools are of importance.The result shows that risky play is seen from two different perspectives: risk of injury or as a chance for challenging the children. The risky plays occur in the ECEC’s outdoor environment; however, the possibility of scaffolding varies, though on the other hand, the children encourage each other to participation.Caregivers and the outdoor environment are the external factors that influence the children’s opportunities for risky play, though they do not influence the ECEC teachers’ attitude. Throughout the result, the risk of the play is an underlying focus, though despite this, several advantages are described.The conclusion is that risky play is significant for children’s development. The lack of risky play inhibits the children and can lead to negative consequences in the long term.