A large international study has found that allowing children more freedom to engage in outdoor, adventurous play can lead to significant benefits in their physical, mental, social, and cognitive development. The research, conducted by the University of Exeter and the University of British Columbia, reviewed 74 studies involving children aged three to twelve and explored the impacts of what it termed "risky play" — activities described as thrilling and exciting, such as riding a bike downhill, climbing trees, or paddling in streams.

The study’s key finding highlighted that children permitted to play outdoors without adult supervision were more physically active. Professor Helen Dodd, director of the Outdoor Play Research Centre at Exeter University and one of the lead researchers, explained that children who have independence to walk to school or visit friends tend to be more engaged in physical activity compared to those who wait for adults to drive them or stay inside playing video games.

Examples from the collated research include observations from a New Zealand primary school, where a year-long intervention granting children greater freedom to play resulted in students becoming noticeably fitter. Similarly, a Canadian educator involved in the research noted that during risky play, children progressively take on bigger challenges and use a wider range of muscles over time.

Despite these benefits, the study cautioned that societal trends towards risk aversion and increased screen time have reduced opportunities for risky play. Professor Dodd suggested that children in England currently receive outdoor independence at around age 11 on average, which she believes is late. She advocated for gradually granting children more freedom starting at around eight years old, allowing them to develop independence in safer, more familiar environments such as walking to their nearby primary school.

Dodd pointed out that this gradual exposure helps children avoid abrupt transitions to independence at a challenging time, such as beginning secondary school while also entering puberty. However, she also emphasized that enabling this shift requires broader societal support, including safe infrastructure like pavements, street lighting, and safe road crossings. Moreover, parents need to feel confident that allowing their children greater freedom is socially acceptable.

In summary, the research underscores the potential developmental advantages of risky play for children but notes the necessity of community and environmental factors aligning to support such independence safely.