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What is Risky Play?
Risky play is a form of play where children engage in a thrilling and challenging experience. Risky play can be many things, such as climbing, jumping from heights, rough and tumble play, exploring unfamiliar environments, and playing with tools or other materials that may cause potential risks.
Risky play is an important part of a child’s development. It promotes resilience, problem-solving, and confidence. However, as caregivers and educators, we often feel compelled to protect children from potential dangers, which can limit their exploration. The key is to find a balance between allowing risky play and maintaining a safe environment. One way to do this is by encouraging children to make their own decisions and take responsibility for their actions, while offering support and guidance when needed. Here are some strategies to help children engage in risky play within boundaries.
Instead of Saying "Be Careful" or "Stop," Try:
"I’m here if you need me." Offering your presence without controlling the situation can encourage children to take risks while knowing they have your support. It reminds them that they’re not alone, but also encourages independence.
"What’s your plan?" Encouraging children to think ahead about their actions helps them assess risks and outcomes themselves. It teaches them to problem-solve and make decisions based on the situation.
"How are you going to get down?" Asking this allows children to reflect on their actions before making a move. It encourages them to think about safety in the context of climbing or other risky activities, without stopping the play completely.
Encouragement After Falling or Failing:
Falling and failing are a natural part of growth. Rather than discouraging children or jumping in too quickly to fix things, we can encourage persistence and problem-solving.
"What can you do differently next time?" This question helps children focus on solutions and how they can improve. It promotes a growth mindset and the understanding that mistakes are part of learning.
"Practice makes progress." Reminding children that skills improve with practice helps them stay motivated even when they don’t succeed on the first try. It reinforces the idea that persistence is more important than perfection.
"Remember last time, you figured it out!" Referencing previous successful attempts gives children confidence. It shows them they have the skills to overcome challenges, even when things don’t go according to plan.
Natural Consequences: Empowering Choices
When we allow children to experience natural consequences, they learn about cause and effect. Giving them choices, while maintaining boundaries, helps them make decisions and accept the outcomes of their actions.
Offer Choices: Rather than just saying "no," offer alternatives. For example, if a child is climbing too high, you might say, "You can climb that high, but if you fall, you might get hurt. What else can you try instead?" This gives children the chance to make their own decisions and understand the risks involved.
"Accidents happen." When accidents do occur, acknowledge the mistake without creating shame. A calm "Accidents happen. Let’s see what we can do next time" helps children understand that failure is just a part of learning.
"What do you think happened?" After a fall or mistake, ask the child to reflect on what went wrong. This helps them analyze the situation and think critically about how they can make better choices in the future.
Balancing Safety and Risk
Risky play doesn’t mean abandoning safety altogether. It’s about offering the freedom to explore while maintaining reasonable limits. By using these strategies, adults can guide children to assess risks and set their own boundaries. This ultimately promotes physical and cognitive development, as well as confidence and resilience.
Read more about Risky Play here.
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At Norwood Centre our team of qualified Early Childhood Development Subject Matter Experts work to provide tools that caregivers can use to support early childhood development. We hear you! If you have a question or concern, please ask us. We have a variety of Child Development Activities available on our website, find them at norwoodcentre.com/child-development-activities. For short-term one-on-one coaching, please call us at 780-471-3737.
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