Many parents and caregivers consider it their job to help mitigate risks for their children. From teaching good handwashing techniques to avoid sickness to holding hands with little ones while crossing a busy intersection, it’s common to fret at the thought of putting children at risk for injury, sickness, or harm.
While well-intended—and, in many cases, perfectly warranted—this protective behavior, when overdone, can unwittingly stunt the physical, emotional, and cognitive development of children. Research has shown that children who learn early on to take safer, more calculated risks benefit from improved confidence, positive self-esteem, self-control, and the importance of following rules.
As a parent, it can feel unnatural to encourage children to take risks at play—and, of course, it’s a balance. However, there are ways to help children take safer risks, while keeping an eye out for real dangers. Here are a few tips.
1. Promote unstructured play
Unstructured free play or play that allows children space to explore the world without guidelines or set rules, offers a variety of benefits—from promoting imagination and creativity to teaching skills related to solo problem solving.
One of the biggest benefits of unstructured free play, however, is that it gives children the opportunity to make their own decisions—good and bad—that can help them learn to take risks. For example, if a child is playing alone in the backyard and decides to climb to the top of a fence and gets stuck, it’s likely they won’t climb that fence again, or they’ll do so differently the next time. On the other hand, children can build confidence by accomplishing things they perceive as frightening to do by themselves—like going a little bit “higher” on the swings.
It’s important to note that unstructured play doesn’t mean unsupervised. Parents and caregivers can and should keep an eye on children—but avoid intervening unless they are at serious risk of harm.
2. Take advantage of “safer” environments
Parents may feel more confident about their children taking risks in certain environments, like in or around the home. People may not realize, however, that today’s playgrounds are often made with safer risk-taking in mind. Additionally, playground equipment is required to meet certain safety standards—such as a critical fall height rating, which helps mitigate serious risk of injury, and be placed on safety-tested surfacing made from materials that helps absorb shock from a fall.
These elements make playgrounds a great place for children to explore freely, while also being supervised by a parent or guardian. Playgrounds offer children a place to run, jump, and test boundaries more safely.
3. Try new things together
Some children may be risk-averse—which is often a perfectly natural stage for kids to go through during growth and development. For kids who may not be quite as excited to jump from play element to play element, parents can take a more hands-on approach by trying new things together. If your child is anxious about using the monkey bars at your local playground, for example, model how the monkey bars can be crossed more safely by using them yourself. For children who are worried about heights, try climbing play structures together—and celebrating that victory when you get to the top safely. Not only does this help children feel more secure trying new things and taking risks, but it can also strengthen the bond between the two of you.
It’s important to follow all rules and regulations when visiting playgrounds and keep an eye on children who are engaging in free play. While encouraging kids to take risks can be uncomfortable at first, do it at you and your child’s own pace—and watch as they grow into confident, self-assured young adults.
Brad Pittam is the president of the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) and works to bring more awareness to natural play and the playground industry. Brad graduated from Bradley University in 1992 and is currently based in Chicago, United States.
