29/09/2026
Some of the Green Planet Education Team had a very uplifting time at the Forest School Association annual conference this weekend. I was personally honoured and moved to be amongst so many like minded folk, all of whom were in agreement that across the board children are getting a bum deal, having play opportunities either forcibly structured or just simply not getting enough of it. In the summary discussion Eugene Minogue from Play England brought it all together in the most concise way by underlining the message that "everything starts with play". And while I disagreed with him that the game is in fact called Curbsy, not Curby (maybe a generational or regional thing), I otherwise agreed with every word he said. 😜
In a chat afterwards I expressed that it was great to see that everyone was in agreement, but what would be one takeaway he would recommend that we could all go back to our roles and make immediate changes with. He gave me 2 words, "Seventeen Seconds".
Now I am far from shy when it comes to asserting the ways of Forest School to the uninitiated, 'helpful' supporting staff who are either regularly interrupt play and children's' flow state, or smother them with well meaning 'be careful's' and 'slow down's' or outright 'don't do that's!'. But when my back is turned, if they don't understand why that type of vocabulary is negative to child development, do they carry on with their helicoptering and interrupting? You bet your pants they do!
So for me, a hugely important take away from this weekend's gathering of very excellent Forest School talent and other assorted brilliant folks, is to teach those well-intentioned meddlers the 17-second rule of risky play. Have a read, make your own opinion, and give it a share.
Mr Mud
Learn why risky play is so important for kids and try this useful tip to keep yourself from jumping in to intervene (we know it's hard!).
