Dangerous play.

We all do it don’t we? Look back upon the past with rose coloured tinted glasses. “It was such a simpler time back then, without this health and safety to worry about?”

As a child of the late seventies and eighties, I remember this maypole; when I first used it, I was not tall enough to reach the chains. So, my dad would help me up and start me off…..Big boys and girls would then arrive, and I would be stuck in an ever growing gyro circle…….going around and around….the speed dictated by the screaming and excited big boys and girls around me. My arms would then feel tired……I need to let go while at full speed……! Will my peers slow down and help me off………?

No way! Their fun was in is seeing me drop!

Where was my Dad? No where to be seen of course…..

So I would plan my “calculated accident” by letting go and hoping for the best…..making sure to miss the angry concrete floor directly underneath me and hoping not to land on dog mess…….

Oh what fun……..?

The reality is our generation of the 1970’s and 80’s faced the highest recorded rates of death and serious injury from playgrounds, we grew up in risk laden dangerous times; We would negotiate risk of serious injury from the home to the playgrounds and also for good measure, long term health problems from passive smoking on buses and trains.

Thankfully, following an analysis in Sheffield led by the late Cynthia Illingworth, this led to changes; for example, the introduction of impact absorbing surfaces, equipment entrapment avoidance, height restrictions and guardrails.

However, we all know it went too far……setting up my first provision in the late 2007, we were audited on our risk assessment of our outdoor provisions……reminded children should avoid play that could be dangerous or risky……. As parents of young children, we already knew little ones (boys and girls) are inclined to take risks when playing. Partly due to lack of understanding and partly for the just the sheer enjoyment!

So our ethos has always been to manage risk versus benefits; to allow children to learn to play in an environment where they can push their gross and finer motor skills and to take cognitive and tacit decisions, to learn individually , what is safe and not safe, rather than doctrine.

Learning through play on “how not to get injured” and minor scrapes and bumps reinforces their skill sets, allowing them to reflect.

It is great to see a change in mood of risky play; I believe risky play it is an essential for our youngest in learning and development of their understanding of the world around them. Managed properly, children will enjoy what they believe to be a risky activity, when in fact risk assessments are in place to “minimize the risk of harm.”

We have all done it haven’t we? Even if we never meant to…….Not respond to someone, maybe due to time constraints, forgetfulness……

The rising trend that is ghosting is sadly not about the above,  but something more sinister and insidious that has slowly been rising and bubbling into our work and social lives; simply, you do not wish to communicate with someone so, they no longer exist……no matter how many times that person tried to make contact.

I read many articles about how “employers ghosting” candidates, and the injustice of it all….. However, and in my experience of years of recruitment and having vetted, interviewed  thousands of candidates over the years is that potential employees are more than capable of ghosting new employers.

Is this due to a lack of emotional intelligence? Are we just too busy? Or, something more?

I have always been a “ghost buster” treating others how I expect to be treated so, typically I would persist to contact say, a candidate who failed to show up for an interview.

Once I managed to get through, some would reflect and show  remorse and give a detailed mitigation and ask for another interview.

Only not show up again!

In our modern age of “networking” emails and online, maybe we have started to fray the social bonds that people create whether through work and play. Leading to becoming simply easier to “ghost” and disconnecting with their emotional intelligence; how does your actions make that person feel. Especially if they are pinning their aspirations on a good outcome of the meeting?

Ironically, are we starting to loose key areas of social skills that we work so hard to nurture in early years?

Over the years, I have put together a real practical strategy on how to create better and meaningful attachments within business including, attracting and retaining the right staff members. Empowering and inspiring them to share your vision and ethos.

It really does start off with you and how others perceive you and your possible style of leadership. Do you have scope for further self reflection?

Thank you for your time in reading my article, please feel to add any constructive comments and further debate!