The Power of Risky and Messy Play
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INDIVIDUAL - $129
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TEAM - $599
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The Power of Risky and Messy Play
Building Confidence, Creativity, and Courage in Early Childhood
Tuesday 25th November 2025
6:00pm - 8:00pm - New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
Wednesday 26th November 2025
6:00pm - 8:00pm Queensland, Western Australia
6:30pm - 8:30pm - Northern Territory, South Australia
Course Overview
This course explores the essential role of risky and messy play in early childhood development. Educators will learn how to create safe yet stimulating environments that nurture confidence, curiosity, and resilience. Participants will leave with practical strategies, reflective tools, and the confidence to communicate the value of this play to families.
This course celebrates the balance between risk and safety, and the beauty of learning through mess, movement, and meaningful exploration.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Course Modules
Module 1: The Theory Behind the Mess
“How do I personally feel about risk and mess? What experiences shaped this?”
Module 2: Developmental Benefits Across Domains
Identify examples of risky and messy play observed in your setting and link them to developmental outcomes.
Module 3: Creating Safe, Supported Environments
Customisable Risk-Benefit Assessment Template.
Module 4: Experiences Available
Educators will explore a variety of risky and messy play experiences suited to different ages and settings.
This includes activities across physical, sensory, nature-based, and creative domains — each designed to challenge, inspire, and engage.
Participants will have experiences available for hands-on exploration, observation, and adaptation to their own settings.
Extension:
How to use natural and recycled materials to create open-ended play invitations.
Module 5: Talking with Families
Draft a parent communication (newsletter, display board, or social post) that explains the benefits of messy and risky play.
Module 6: Reflect, Document, Celebrate
Included Course Resources
Building Confidence, Creativity, and Courage in Early Childhood
Tuesday 25th November 2025
6:00pm - 8:00pm - New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
Wednesday 26th November 2025
6:00pm - 8:00pm Queensland, Western Australia
6:30pm - 8:30pm - Northern Territory, South Australia
Course Overview
This course explores the essential role of risky and messy play in early childhood development. Educators will learn how to create safe yet stimulating environments that nurture confidence, curiosity, and resilience. Participants will leave with practical strategies, reflective tools, and the confidence to communicate the value of this play to families.
This course celebrates the balance between risk and safety, and the beauty of learning through mess, movement, and meaningful exploration.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the developmental benefits of risky and messy play across all domains.
- Facilitate challenging yet safe experiences that promote problem-solving, confidence, and creativity.
- Identify and assess risk effectively while supporting children’s agency.
- Communicate the purpose and value of risky and messy play to families.
- Embed reflective practice and documentation that celebrates children’s growth and exploration.
- Develop a philosophy of play that honours children’s right to explore, discover, and get dirty.
Course Modules
Module 1: The Theory Behind the Mess
- What is risky and messy play?
- Understanding the neuroscience of curiosity and risk-taking.
- The role of sensory play in brain development.
- Debunking myths: risk ≠ danger.
“How do I personally feel about risk and mess? What experiences shaped this?”
Module 2: Developmental Benefits Across Domains
- Linking play to physical, cognitive, social, emotional, language, and creative growth.
- How risk supports resilience and emotional regulation.
- Connection to EYLF Outcomes and NQS Standards.
Identify examples of risky and messy play observed in your setting and link them to developmental outcomes.
Module 3: Creating Safe, Supported Environments
- The art of risk-benefit assessment.
- How to scaffold challenges safely.
- Supervision strategies: “watching without limiting.”
- Building environments that invite exploration (indoor and outdoor).
Customisable Risk-Benefit Assessment Template.
Module 4: Experiences Available
Educators will explore a variety of risky and messy play experiences suited to different ages and settings.
This includes activities across physical, sensory, nature-based, and creative domains — each designed to challenge, inspire, and engage.
Participants will have experiences available for hands-on exploration, observation, and adaptation to their own settings.
Extension:
How to use natural and recycled materials to create open-ended play invitations.
Module 5: Talking with Families
- Common concerns and how to address them with empathy and evidence.
- Phrases that build trust and understanding.
- Demonstrating safety, supervision, and learning through visuals, documentation, and language.
Draft a parent communication (newsletter, display board, or social post) that explains the benefits of messy and risky play.
Module 6: Reflect, Document, Celebrate
- How to document learning beyond “cute photos.”
- Linking observations to EYLF Outcomes and Practices.
- Using critical reflection questions to deepen understanding:
- How does this experience support children’s confidence?
- What skills are children testing or mastering?
- How does my attitude toward risk shape the environment I create?
Included Course Resources
- Editable Risk-Benefit Assessment Template
- Reflection Journal & Group Discussion Prompts
- Printable Family Handout: Why Risky & Messy Play Matters
- Certificates of Completion