Top

BMC Public Health

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Research

Parent perceived barriers and facilitators of children’s adventurous play in Britain: a framework analysis

Authors: Brooke E. Oliver, Rachel J. Nesbit, Rachel McCloy, Kate Harvey, Helen F. Dodd

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

Background

From a public health perspective there is growing interest in children’s play, including play involving risk and adventure, in relation to children’s physical and mental health. Regarding mental health, it is theorised that adventurous play, where children experience thrilling, exciting emotions, offers important learning opportunities that prepare children for dealing with uncertainty and help prevent anxiety. Despite these benefits, adventurous play has decreased substantially within a generation. Parents have a key role in facilitating or limiting children’s opportunities for adventurous play, but research identifying the barriers and facilitators parents perceive in relation to adventurous play is scarce. The present study therefore examined the barriers to and facilitators of adventurous play as perceived by parents of school-aged children in Britain.

Methods

This study analysed data from a subsample of parents in Britain (n = 377) who participated in the nationally representative British Children’s Play Survey. Parents responded to two open-ended questions pertaining to the barriers to and facilitators of children’s adventurous play. Responses were analysed using a qualitative Framework Analysis, an approach suitable for managing large datasets with specific research questions.

Results

Four framework categories were identified: Social Environment; Physical Environment; Risk of Injury; Child Factors. Social Environment included barriers and facilitators related to parents, family and peers, as well as community and society. Dominant themes within the Social Environment related to perceptions about the certainty of child safety, such as supervision and the safety of society. Beliefs about the benefits of adventurous play for development and well-being were also important in the Social Environment. Physical Environment factors focused on safety and practical issues. Risk of Injury captured concerns about children being injured during play. Child Factors included child attributes, such as play preference, developmental ability and trait-like characteristics.

Conclusions

Improved understanding of what influences parent perceptions of adventurous play can inform public health interventions designed to improve children’s opportunities for and engagement in adventurous play, with a view to promote children’s physical and mental health.

Available only for authorised users

Alexander SA, Frohlich KL, Fusco C. Playing for health? Revisiting health promotion to examine the emerging public health position on children’s play. Health promotion international. 2014;29(1):155–64. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/das042CrossRefPubMed

Dodd HF, Lester KJ. Adventurous play as a mechanism for reducing risk for childhood anxiety: a conceptual model. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. 2021;24:164–81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-020-00338-wCrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Sandseter EBH. Characteristics of risky play. Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning. 2009;9(1):3–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729670802702762CrossRef

Coster D, Gleeve J. Give us a go! Children and young people’s views on play and risk-taking. 2008.

Brussoni M, Gibbons R, Gray C, Ishikawa T, Sandseter EB, Bienenstock A, et al. What is the Relationship between Risky Outdoor Play and Health in Children? A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015;12(6):6423–54. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120606423CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Sandseter EBH, Kennair LEO. Children’s risky play from an evolutionary perspective: the anti-phobic effects of thrilling experiences. Evolutionary Psychology. 2011;9(2):257–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491100900212CrossRefPubMed

Sandseter EBH. Scaryfunny: A qualitative study of risky play among preschool children [Doctoral dissertation]. NTNU Open: Norwegian University of Science and Technology; 2010.

Sandseter EBH. Children’s expressions of exhilaration and fear in risky play. Contemporary issues in early childhood. 2009;10(2):92–106. https://doi.org/10.2304/ciec.2009.10.2.92CrossRef

Brussoni M, Olsen LL, Pike I, Sleet DA. Risky Play and Children’s Safety: Balancing Priorities for Optimal Child Development. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2012;9(9):3134–48. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9093134CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

10.

Lavrysen A, Bertrands E, Leyssen L, Smets L, Vanderspikken A, De Graef P. Risky-play at school. Facilitating risk perception and competence in young children. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. 2017;25(1):89–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2015.1102412CrossRef

11.

EnglandMarketing. Report to Natural England on Childhood and Nature. 2009.

12.

Clements R. An investigation of the status of outdoor play. Contemporary issues in early childhood. 2004;5(1):68–80. https://doi.org/10.2304/ciec.2004.5.1.10CrossRef

13.

Cleland V, Timperio A, Salmon J, Hume C, Baur LA, Crawford D. Predictors of time spent outdoors among children: 5-year longitudinal findings. Journal of epidemiology & community health. 2010;64(5):400–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2009.087460CrossRef

14.

Jelleyman C, McPhee J, Brussoni M, Bundy A, Duncan S. A Cross-Sectional Description of Parental Perceptions and Practices Related to Risky Play and Independent Mobility in Children: The New Zealand State of Play Survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16020262

15.

Bronfenbrenner U. The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 1979.

16.

Morrongiello BA, Lasenby-Lessard J. Psychological determinants of risk taking by children: an integrative model and implications for interventions. Injury prevention. 2007;13(1):20–5. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip.2005.011296CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

17.

Boxberger K, Reimers AK. Parental correlates of outdoor play in boys and girls aged 0 to 12—A systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2019;16(2):190. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16020190CrossRefPubMedCentral

18.

Nesbit RJ, Bagnall CL, Harvey K, Dodd HF. Perceived Barriers and Facilitators of Adventurous Play in Schools: A qualitative systematic review. Children. 2021;8(8):681. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8080681CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

19.

Dodd HF, FitzGibbon L, Watson BE, Nesbit RJ. Children’s Play and Independent Mobility in 2020: Results from the British Children’s Play Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(8):4334. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084334CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

20.

Cevher-Kalburan N, Ivrendi A. Risky Play and Parenting Styles. Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2016;25(2):355–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0236-1CrossRef

21.

Brussoni M, Olsen LL, Creighton G, Oliffe JL. Heterosexual Gender Relations In and Around Childhood Risk and Safety. Qualitative Health Research. 2013;23(10):1388–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732313505916CrossRefPubMed

22.

Bogels S, Phares V. Fathers’ role in the etiology, prevention and treatment of child anxiety: A review and new model. Clinical Psychology Review. 2008;28(4):539–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2007.07.011CrossRefPubMed

23.

Little H, Wyver S, Gibson F. The influence of play context and adult attitudes on young children’s physical risk-taking during outdoor play. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. 2011;19(1):113–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293x.2011.548959CrossRef

24.

Little H. Mothers’ beliefs about risk and risk-taking in children’s outdoor play. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. 2015;15(1):24–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2013.842178CrossRef

25.

McFarland L, Laird SG. Parents’ and Early Childhood Educators’ Attitudes and Practices in Relation to Children’s Outdoor Risky Play. Early Childhood Education Journal. 2018;46(2):159–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-017-0856-8CrossRef

26.

Little H. Relationship between parents’ beliefs and their responses to children’s risk-taking behaviour during outdoor play. J Early Childhood Res. 2010;8(3):315–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X10368587CrossRef

27.

Shaw B, Bicket M, Elliot B, Fagan-Watson B, Mocca E, Hillman M. Children’s Independent Mobility: an international comparison and recommendations for action. 2015.

28.

Hillman M, Adams J, Whitelegg J. One false move: a study of children’s independent mobility. 1990.

29.

Kelley P, Hood S, Mayall B. Children, parents and risk. Health & social care in the community. 1998;6(1):16–24. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2524.1998.00094.xCrossRef

30.

Sandseter EBH, Cordovil R, Hagen TL, Lopes F. Barriers for outdoor play in early childhood education and care (ECEC) institutions: Perception of risk in children’s play among European parents and ECEC practitioners. Child Care in Practice. 2020;26(2):111–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2019.1685461CrossRef

31.

McFarland L, Laird SG. “She’s Only Two”: Parents and Educators as Gatekeepers of Children’s Opportunities for Nature-Based Risky Play. Research Handbook on Childhoodnature: Assemblages of Childhood and Nature Research. 2020:1075–98.

32.

Lee H, Tamminen KA, Clark AM, Slater L, Spence JC, Holt NL. A meta-study of qualitative research examining determinants of children’s independent active free play. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2015;12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-015-0165-9

33.

Holt NL, Neely KC, Spence JC, Carson V, Pynn SR, Boyd KA, et al. An intergenerational study of perceptions of changes in active free play among families from rural areas of Western Canada. Bmc Public Health. 2016;16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3490-2

34.

Veitch J, Bagley S, Ball K, Salmon J. Where do children usually play? A qualitative study of parents’ perceptions of influences on children’s active free-play. Health Place. 2006;12(4):383–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2005.02.009.CrossRefPubMed

35.

Niehues AN, Bundy A, Broom A, Tranter P. Reframing healthy risk taking: Parents’ dilemmas and strategies to promote children’s well-being. Journal of Occupational Science. 2016;23(4):449–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2016.1209424CrossRef

36.

Ritchie J, Spencer L. Qualitative data analysis for applied policy research In: Bryman A, Burgess RG, editors. Analysing Qualitative Data. London: Routledge; 1994. p. 173–94.CrossRef

37.

Patton MQ. Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods: Integrating Theory and Practice. 4th ed. Los Angeles (CA): Sage Publications, Inc; 2015.

38.

Srivastava A, Thomson SB. Framework analysis: a qualitative methodology for applied policy research. J Administration Governance. 2009;4(2):72-9.

39.

Gale NK, Heath G, Cameron E, Rashid S, Redwood S. Using the framework method for the analysis of qualitative data in multi-disciplinary health research. BMC medical research methodology. 2013;13(1):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-13-117CrossRef

40.

Elliott R, Fischer CT, Rennie DL. Evolving guidelines for publication of qualitative research studies in psychology and related fields. British journal of clinical psychology. 1999;38(3):215–29. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466599162782CrossRef

41.

Henwood KL, Pidgeon NF. Qualitative research and psychological theorizing. British journal of psychology. 1992;83(1):97–111. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1992.tb02426.xCrossRefPubMed

42.

Mays N, Pope C. Quality in qualitative research. In: Pope. C, Mays. N, editors. Qualitative Research in Health Care. 4th ed. Hoboken (NJ): Wiley-Blackwell; 2020. p. 211–33.

43.

Beetham KS, Sterman J, Bundy AC, Wyver S, Ragen J, Engelen L, et al. Lower parent tolerance of risk in play for children with disability than typically developing children. International Journal of Play. 2019;8(2):174–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/21594937.2019.1643980CrossRef

44.

Kagan J, Reznick JS, Snidman N. The physiology and psychology of behavioral inhibition in children. Child development. 1987:1459–73. https://doi.org/10.2307/1130685

45.

Zuckerman M. Behavioral Expressions and Biosocial Bases of Sensation Seeking. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.; 1994.

46.

Morrongiello BA, Sandomierski M, Valla J. Early identification of children at risk of unintentional injury: a sensation seeking scale for children 2–5 years of age. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2010;42(4):1332–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2010.02.014CrossRef

47.

Carleton RN. Into the unknown: A review and synthesis of contemporary models involving uncertainty. Journal of anxiety disorders. 2016;39:30–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.02.007CrossRefPubMed

48.

Clarke K, Cooper P, Creswell C. The Parental Overprotection Scale: Associations with child and parental anxiety. Journal of affective disorders. 2013;151(2):618–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.07.007CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

49.

Creswell C, Murray L, Stacey J, Cooper P. Parenting and child anxiety. Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. 2011;2:299–322.CrossRef

50.

Steiner EM, Dahlquist LM, Power TG, Bollinger ME. Intolerance of uncertainty and protective parenting in mothers of children with food allergy. Children’s Health Care. 2020;49(2):184–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/02739615.2019.1650362CrossRef

51.

Brussoni M, Olsen LL. The perils of overprotective parenting: fathers’ perspectives explored. Child: care, health and development. 2013;39(2):237 – 45. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01361.xCrossRef

52.

Howes C. Social Play of Children with Adults and Peers. In: Nathan P, Pelligrini AD, editors. The Oxford Handbook of the Development of Play. New York (NY): Oxford University Press; 2010.

53.

Morrongiello BA, Sedore L. The influence of child attributes and social-situational context on school-age children’s risk taking behaviors that can lead to injury. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. 2005;26(3):347–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2005.02.003CrossRef

54.

Morrongiello BA, MacIsaac TJ, Klemencic N. Older siblings as supervisors: does this influence young children’s risk of unintentional injury? Social science & medicine. 2007;64(4):807–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.10.036CrossRef

55.

Morrongiello BA, McArthur BA, Kane A, Fleury R. Only kids who are fools would do that!: peer social norms influence children’s risk-taking decisions. Journal of pediatric psychology. 2013;38(7):744–55. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jst019CrossRefPubMed

56.

Morrongiello BA, Bradley MD. Sibling power: influence of older siblings’ persuasive appeals on younger siblings’ judgements about risk taking behaviours. Injury prevention. 1997;3(1):23–8. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip.3.1.23CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

57.

Green J, Hart L. Children’s views of accident risks and prevention: a qualitative study. Injury Prevention. 1998;4(1):14–21. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip.4.1.14CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

58.

Witten K, Kearns R, Carroll P, Asiasiga L, Tava’e N. New Zealand parents’ understandings of the intergenerational decline in children’s independent outdoor play and active travel. Children’s Geographies. 2013;11(2):215–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2013.779839CrossRef

59.

Smith AL, Troped PJ, McDonough MH, DeFreese JD. Youth perceptions of how neighborhood physical environment and peers affect physical activity: a focus group study. International journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. 2015;12(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-015-0246-9CrossRef

60.

Brown C, de Lannoy A, McCracken D, Gill T, Grant M, Wright H, et al. Special issue: Child-friendly cities. Cities & Health. 2019;3: 1–2:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2019.1682836CrossRef

61.

Wyver S, Tranter P, Naughton G, Little H, Sandseter EBH, Bundy A. Ten ways to restrict children’s freedom to play: The problem of surplus safety. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood. 2010;11(3):263–77. https://doi.org/10.2304/ciec.2010.11.3.263CrossRef

62.

Office for National Statistics. 2011 Census Analysis - Comparing Rural and Urban Areas of England and Wales. 2011.

63.

Gill T. Space-oriented Children’s Policy: Creating Child‐friendly Communities to Improve Children’s Well‐being 1. Children & society. 2008;22(2):136–42. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2007.00139.xCrossRef

64.

Wilson G, Baldassare M. Overall” sense of community” in a suburban region: The effects of localism, privacy, and urbanization. Environment and Behavior. 1996;28(1):27–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916596281002CrossRef

65.

Carroll P, Calder-Dawe O, Witten K, Asiasiga L. A Prefigurative Politics of Play in Public Places: Children Claim Their Democratic Right to the City Through Play. Space and Culture. 2019;22(3):294–307. https://doi.org/10.1177/1206331218797546CrossRef

66.

Karsten L. It all used to be better? Different generations on continuity and change in urban children’s daily use of space. Children’s Geographies. 2005;3(3):275–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733280500352912CrossRef

67.

Thaler RH, Sunstein CR, Balz JP. Choice Architecture. In: Shafir E, editor. The Behavioral Foundations of Public Policy: Princeton University Press; 2012. p. 428–39.

68.

Slovic P. The feeling of risk: New perspectives on risk perception. London: Routledge; 2010.

69.

Brussoni M, Han CS, Lin Y, Jacob J, Pike I, Bundy A, et al. A Web-Based and In-Person Risk Reframing Intervention to Influence Mothers’ Tolerance for, and Parenting Practices Associated With, Children’s Outdoor Risky Play: Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of medical Internet research. 2021;23(4):e24861. https://doi.org/10.2196/24861CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

70.

Bundy A, Engelen L, Wyver S, Tranter P, Ragen J, Bauman A, et al. Sydney Playground Project: A Cluster-Randomized Trial to Increase Physical Activity, Play, and Social Skills. Journal of School Health. 2017;87(10):751–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12550CrossRef

71.

Sterman J, Villeneuve M, Spencer G, Wyver S, Beetham KS, Naughton G, et al. Creating play opportunities on the school playground: Educator experiences of the Sydney playground project. Australian occupational therapy journal. 2020;67(1):62–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12624CrossRefPubMed

72.

Roberts SO, Bareket-Shavit C, Dollins FA, Goldie PD, Mortenson E. Racial inequality in psychological research: Trends of the past and recommendations for the future. Perspectives on psychological science. 2020;15(6):1295–309. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620927709CrossRefPubMed

Title: Parent perceived barriers and facilitators of children’s adventurous play in Britain: a framework analysis
Authors: Brooke E. Oliver
Rachel J. Nesbit
Rachel McCloy
Kate Harvey
Helen F. Dodd
Publication date: 01-12-2022
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13019-w

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Parent perceived barriers and facilitators of children’s adventurous play in Britain: a framework analysis

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2022

Incidence and mortality trends of nasopharynx cancer from 1990 to 2019 in China: an age-period-cohort analysis

Evaluating ‘Power 4 a Healthy Pregnancy’ (P4HP) – protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial and process evaluation to empower pregnant women towards improved diet quality

Investigating feasibility of 2021 WHO protocol for cervical cancer screening in underscreened populations: PREvention and SCReening Innovation Project Toward Elimination of Cervical Cancer (PRESCRIP-TEC)

Exploring physical literacy in children aged 8 to 12 years old: a cross-cultural comparison between China and Greece

Understanding public attitudes to death talk and advance care planning in Northern Ireland using health behaviour change theory: a qualitative study

Teachers’ working time as a risk factor for their mental health - findings from a cross-sectional study at German upper-level secondary schools