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The Power of Risky Play: Why Scrapes, Squeals, and Adventure Are Essential

As we pass the halfway mark of 2024, families are settling into a groove, and with spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start planning your next family adventure. Australia’s capital cities are buzzing with exciting new attractions that promise unforgettable experiences for all ages.
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Queensland Queensland
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The Power of Risky Play: Why Scrapes, Squeals, and Adventure Are Essential
In celebration of World Play Day and International Day of Play, we're delving into one of the most powerful - and often misunderstood - ways children grow and thrive: risky play.

"Children learn how to assess and manage risk not by being told, but by doing. Risky play allows for just the right amount of uncertainty to help children grow."
— Dr Mariana Brussoni, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at the University of British Columbia

 

At SPARK POP, we're parents too. We understand the instinct to protect. But when we embrace the right kind of risk, the rewards are lifelong.
Updated May 5 2025
Melissa Soutar
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Celebrating Play with Purpose

Think less 'reckless' and more 'resilient'. Risky play is all about giving kids the space to climb, balance, explore and stretch their limits in safe but challenging ways. And while it may involve the occasional scrape, it's also where confidence, creativity, and mental toughness are born.

Ready to shake off the bubble wrap and embrace play that empowers? Let's explore why risky play is one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids - and how to do it well.

What is Risky Play and Why Does it Matter?
Picture this, your child, eyes lit with excitement, as they climb high, leap boldly, or zip through a ropes course. These moments, bubbling with energy and just the right amount of uncertainty, are what risky play is all about.

Risky pay includes climbing, jumping, balancing, moving at speed, or navigating unfamiliar challenges - where the risk is real but manageable. It's where children learn to assess danger, trust their instincts, and discover what they're capable of.

And best of all? They love it.

Experiences like a ninja course, surf lesson, or zipline adventure aren't just fun - they're the perfect stage for kids to explore courage, coordination, and confidence all at once. 
Resilience is built one challenge at a time

Every time a child climbs higher, falls, and tries again, they’re building emotional muscle. Resilience isn’t something we can teach with words—it’s something children develop through action.

“A scraped knee is a small price to pay for a more confident, competent child.”
— Tim Gill, Author of No Fear: Growing Up in a Risk Averse Society

So whether it’s taking a fall from a balance beam or wiping out on a wave, these “failures” aren’t setbacks—they’re the stepping stones to strength and self-belief.

 

RESILIENCE
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Mini Karting Sydney
Confidence Through Control and Choice
 

Children feel more confident when they are trusted to make their own decisions, take calculated risks, and succeed (or fail) on their own terms.

“The ability to navigate risk is a crucial life skill. When we allow kids to take risks in play, they learn self-regulation, judgment, and problem-solving.”
— Angela Hanscom, Pediatric Occupational Therapist and Author of Balanced and Barefoot

Risky play nurtures self-trust. When children realise they can climb higher, balance longer, or go faster than they thought—they carry that confidence into all areas of life.

CONFIDENCE
CURRENT PROMOTIONS
Below are currently some of Spark Pop’s current promotions. Hurry you better book in quick!
Event Cinema
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EVENT Cinema Pass
Great for All Ages
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Melbourne Big Ticket
Great for Ages 3-12
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Finding the Sweet Spot: Safe, Supported Risky Play

We’re not talking about danger without boundaries. Risky play is most effective—and empowering—when it’s done in the right environment.

At SPARK POP, we partner with providers who offer structured, supervised experiences, so parents can relax knowing their kids are safe as they explore new territory.

How to support healthy risk:

  • Be present without micromanaging

  • Choose age-appropriate adventures with trained facilitators

  • Celebrate effort, not just success

“Risky play isn’t about pushing children into danger, it’s about allowing them to stretch and test themselves in developmentally appropriate ways.”
— Dr Justin Coulson, Parenting Expert and Founder of Happy Families


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Our favourite 5: Risky Play Adventures Worth the Scrapes
 
These top SPARK POP picks offer just the right mix of challenge, fun, and adventure:
RISKY PLAY
1. Mountain Biking
Gold Coast | QLD

 

Whether they’re riding solo for the first time or taking on a twisting trail with family, bike riding builds courage, coordination and confidence. Trail rides and mountain biking in supported environments let kids test their limits—on two wheels—with the safety of expert instruction and gear.

“When children ride bikes, they’re learning balance, control, and traffic awareness—but they’re also learning to fall and get back up. That’s resilience in motion.”
— Angela Hanscom, Pediatric Occupational Therapist

 

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Ninja Parc Play
2. Ninja Course
Newcastle | NSW

Leap, duck and swing across ninja obstacles designed to boost agility, balance, and bravery. It’s high-energy fun with real-life skills built in.

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3. Learn to Surf
Byron Bay | NSW

Learning to ride the waves teaches resilience, perseverance and ocean awareness—all wrapped in salty smiles and sandy toes.

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4. Mini Karting
Sydney | NSW
Feel the need for speed? Kids take control behind the wheel, learning self-awareness and fast-paced decision-making on a pro-style track.
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5. Indoor Skydiving
Various | Australia-wide

Step inside a vertical wind tunnel and experience the thrill of freefall—without jumping from a plane. With expert instructors and all the safety gear provided, kids can test their limits, conquer fears, and feel the pure rush of flight.

“When children take on new physical sensations—like floating in mid-air—they’re developing body awareness, adaptability, and confidence that carries over into everyday life.”

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The Play That Shapes the Future

Risky play isn’t reckless—it’s a rite of passage. In a world filled with screens, schedules and structure, giving our kids the space to test their limits is a powerful gift.

This World Play Day, we invite you to explore experiences that go beyond the ordinary and spark growth in extraordinary ways.

👉 Explore Risky Play Experiences Across Australia

GET $10 OFF YOUR FIRST BOOKING
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Queensland

Here in Queensland this year will continue to be about captivating lands and worlds exciting and captivating children, parents and grandparents alike! These are those experiences that will create everlasting memories.

Experience the magic of the
Wizard of Oz at Movie World

Gold Coast
| December 2024

It’s been 85 years since the musical fairytale movie The Wizard of Oz made its mark on the silver screens and has never looked back!  Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the new Wizard of Oz precinct.

This spectacular new addition to Warner Bros. Movie World will hit those flashback buttons for parents and make little eyes light up! With 96cm and 4-year-old requirements, this one is perfect for our pre-primary and primary-aged kids who often miss out. The world-first Wizard of Oz precinct features two family-friendly coasters: The Flight of the Wicked Witch, a thrilling suspended family coaster with a 454-meter-long track and speeds up to 67 km/h, and Kansas Twister, a family boomerang racer with dual racing tracks and speeds up to 58 km/h.

Guests will get to immerse yourself in the magic of The Wizard of Oz with projection mapping, stunning sculptures, and facades as you follow The Yellow Brick Road to the Land of Oz. Designed with low height and age restrictions, these high-capacity attractions are set to provide a magical experience for all ages.

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The Wizard of Oz – Movie World on the Gold Coast
CURRENT
PROMOTIONS
Below are currently some of Spark Pop’s current promotions. Hurry you better book in quick!
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Gold Coast

The Wizard of Oz at Movie World

Great for Ages 6-13.
Discover
From
$23.45
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Gold Coast

The Wizard of Oz at Movie World

Great for Ages 6-13.
Discover
From
$23.45
Frame 756
Gold Coast

The Wizard of Oz at Movie World

Great for Ages 6-13.
Discover
From
$23.45
View all Promotions
Sydney

Here in Sydney this year will continue to be about captivating lands and worlds exciting and captivating children, parents and grandparents alike! These are those experiences that will create everlasting memories.

It’s Playtime at Immersive
Gamebox

Sydney
| Open Now

With 29 locations worldwide and over 1 million players, this new dimension of fun is taking off! Recently opened in Darling Harbour, Sydney, you’ll be among the first in Australia to experience the future of immersive social gaming. Ready for good times? Immersive Gamebox is the place for you.

In this unique social gaming experience, your body is the controller. With motion tracking, projection mapping, touch screens, and surround sound, each Gamebox is an interactive smart room designed to offer immersive experiences from popular games, such as Squid Games, Black Mirror Careers, Tetris 1991, Angry Birds, Paw Patrol, Ghostbusters and more.

Suitable for all ages and experience levels, this attraction is perfect for families looking to bond over innovative games and challenges.

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Immersive Gamebox – Darling Harbour, Sydney

Which of these new attractions are you most excited to visit with your family? Let us know in the comments!

These epic new attractions across Australia are perfect for families seeking fun and memorable experiences. From the immersive world of Bluey to the adventurous rides of Wizard of Oz, there’s something for everyone.

Ready to make memories?
Book your family’s adventure now with SPARK POP!

GET 10% OFF YOUR
FIRST BOOKING