A new buzz word in early learning and child development is “Risky Play”. The concept of allowing children to play in risky ways to build their confidence and help them learn limits has arisen in several scholarly and popular journals. Recently in Canada, several institutions have received large grants to develop areas for risky play.
Are there opportunities for libraries to engage in “Risky Play” learning? Absolutely! One category of Risky Play involves the use of “Dangerous Tools” such as hammers, saws, knives, and drills. Waterloo Public Library has over two years of experience using these tools in our maker programs with children ages two and up. We’re here to share our knowledge of safety equipment, techniques for using tools, and some amazing crafts you can do with patrons in your own library – all 99% guaranteed to be safe!
Outcomes:
– An understanding of the benefits of risky play in child development through a presentation of the latest research.
– Practical implementation ideas and advice for programmers and their supervisors in developing programs with tools.
