Dangerous & chaotic play

Play is often particularly satisfying and joyful when it takes place at the borders of what is considered safe; when we risk losing control and ourselves in the action and the moment. At the same time, play is regularly being subjected to control and safety regulations, especially the play of children. It is understandable that we want to avoid both ourselves and our children getting hurt, but the desire for control poses a risk in itself. If we completely marginalize and eliminate dangerous play, we remove a valuable opportunity to explore that which can otherwise be much more serious threat. Playing with risks is, apart from being fun and exciting, also a way of understanding, navigating and reducing risk. In the end, playing on the borders of safety is a way of figuring out how far we can go and how we take care of ourselves and each other.