Risky Play: An Ethical Challenge

Description

This open access book brings together current childhood research and contemporary ethical theory to draw attention to how children depend upon a scope of action for risky play for their mental and physical development. In many countries, the opportunities for children to play away from adults' close attention have decreased. At both school and home, protection and avoidance of harm take increasing priority. This book draws a distinction between do-good ethics and avoid-harm ethics to highlight ethical tensions and dilemmas encountered by professionals who work with children, and suggests better ways to balance these ethical dimensions in approaching risky play.  Advance Praise Acknowledgements Contents Chapter 1: Risky Play and Ethics The Authors Childhood in Change The Structure of the Book Risky Play (Part I) Ethics and Risk (Part II) References Part I: Risky Play Chapter 2: Risky Play, Then and Now Everybody Plays Risky Play Children’s Assessment and Risk Management Changes in Conditions for Risky Play Why Are We More Worried Now Than Earlier? The Perception of Risk Has Changed Are There More Child Injuries Now Than Earlier? Poor and Unattractive Play Environments Summary References Chapter 3: Experiences, Mastery, and Development Through Risk Joy and Good Experiences Life Mastery Physical Development and Motor Competence Prevention of Anxiety Risk Management To Prove the Absence of Anything That Could Have Been Summary References Chapter 4: Negative Consequences of Protection The Ethical Dilemma of Proving Negative Effects Lack of Development and Risk Management Mental Problems The Effect of Being Overprotected Summary References Part II: Ethics and Risk Chapter 5: Doing Good and Avoiding Harm Two Ethical Perspectives Protected Children Risk Ethics Long-Term Ethics Summary References Chapter 6: Ethical Navigation The Principle of Equality The Principle of Publicity The Good and the Right The Navigation Wheel Ethical Pre- and Post-work Summary References Chapter 7: Moral Luck Morality and Luck Moral Protection Agent Regret Summary References Chapter 8: Ways Forward References