Risky play in the early years is a key part of any child’s development. Jumping off logs, climbing trees, sliding, slipping, and speeding around was once a natural part of childhood. But we’ve become a bit more risk-averse lately. Bumps and bruises can scare us away from rough-and-tumble play. And when we do that, we lose out on the many brilliant benefits of risky play.
Appropriate risky play is about creating environments for children to let them explore controlled risk-taking. It is without running into real hazards. Parents should make sure that their children get the opportunity to push their boundaries. Explore what they can do when it comes to risky games to play.
Why Risky Play is Important for Children?
Risky play is important for children to have the opportunity to engage in risky play. It includes playing with heights, speed, tests of strength, and the use of real tools. Managing risks is a key life skill. And from an early age, it helps the child understand their own abilities. So, they can use critical thinking while playing risky games.
Without taking risks, developing children may overreact to new environments. They may go into fight or flight mode immediately when faced with unfamiliar peers. One of the major functions of risky play is to teach developing brains how to regulate fear and anger. So, learning risk management skills is a key part of child development. And your role as an early educator is to find the right balance.
What Risky Games to Play with Children?
Risky play can have different forms. It is about giving children the space to build confidence. Let them test their capabilities on their own terms. There are several types of risky games to play, and the behaviours that distinguish each type of play:
- Vicarious risk is when children watch others engage in risky play.
- Playing with impact, where children throw themselves onto mattresses/pillows. They crash bikes into walls.
- Playing at heights where there is a risk of falling.
- Playing such games where they can collide with people or objects.
- Playing with dangerous tools where there is a risk of injury.
- Playing near dangerous elements that involve the possibility of falling into or from something.
- Rough-and-tumble play where children can harm each other.
- Playing where children can hide or be out of the sight of adults.
How Can You Help Your Child Take Risks?
Knowing its importance, it’s worth educating your child about risk-taking. Encourage them to challenge themselves when the time is right. To support your children during risky play, here are a few tips:
- Have a real conversation instead of just instructions!
- Introduce risks gradually
- Your child is competent – whether a boy or a girl!
- Do you allow your son to be more independent than your daughter?
- Do you assume boys are more risk-competent or girls are more risk-averse?
- Do you say different things to boys and girls?
- Do you dress your daughter in clothes that limit her freedom to climb?
- Balance between supervision and freedom
- Talk about risks
Children are much more likely to attempt risky play if adults talk to them about planning for and taking risks. So instead of just telling your child to ‘be careful’, you should help them question what they’re doing and why. You might say, ‘That knife is very sharp. It could cut you, and you might bleed. Only hold it by the handle and cut down towards the chopping board’. It’s also important to give your child ‘praise with meaning’ when they handle a risky situation well. Remember to ask for your child’s thoughts about what might happen if they use unsafe practices.
Don’t throw your child into the deep end. Instead, slowly increase levels of difficulty when letting your child try new things. This means starting them with a plastic butter knife and slowly moving up to a sharp metal one. Introduce your child to fire over many months. Begin with supervised tea lights at mealtimes and lead up to a large open fire pit when you go camping.
Gender bias around a risky play can happen without parents or caregivers even realising they’re doing it. So, whether you have a boy or girl or both, think about the following questions to get the answer.
Girls must be challenged and invited to participate in risky play as often as boys. Do not assume that girls don’t want to take as many risks.
Like adults, children don’t always want to be supervised! Give them a sense of freedom and autonomy. Look for opportunities where your child feels like they’re playing independently, alone, or out of sight while you remain close by. Lost or disappearing play allows for this. You can watch out of the corner of your eye as your child hides in a homemade cubby or natural environment.
It’s also recommended to discuss safe and unsafe situations as you go about your normal lives. Encourage your child to notice these situations as well. For example, talk about the risks associated with crossing the road when you walk to the playground together. This gets your child thinking about ways to stay safe before they’re in a risky, stressful situation.
Risky play is often driven by the children themselves when they challenge themselves or others to complete new tasks and overcome challenges. However, adult input is the key to ensuring that risky play is also safe for children. An adult’s role is to keep children safe, happy, and learning while they support them in their space. At Kangaroo Kids International Preschool, you can ensure that children enjoy all the benefits of risky play without any serious injuries. To learn more about our curriculum, contact us today!
