A comparative study on potential and actualized risky play in German and Turkish nature-based preschools

This study explores potential and actualized affordances for risky play in two preschool settings in Turkey and Germany. One preschool from each country was purposively selected using a multiple case study design involving 38 Turkish and 20 German children. Data encompassed affordances observed in play environments during fall and winter over 40 days. The results underscore both countries’ rich risky play opportunities, emphasizing high-speed play and play at great heights. The German preschool had more risky play opportunities in play environments and visited more areas compared to the Turkish one. Making various arrangements in the play areas increased the opportunities in the environment. The findings also revealed that children in the German preschool engaged more frequently and diversely in risky play, suggesting culture-specific distinctions in the actualization of these affordances. The study findings also suggest that the educators’ attitudes, mixed-age groups, and allocated free playtime shape children’s risky play experiences.