Unlocking the Power of Risky Play: Empowering Children's Growth and Development

As the summer sun shines brightly, children across the country are embarking on outdoor adventures, from scaling trees to plunging into lakes by rope swing. But these thrilling activities are more than just fun – they are essential to a child's health and overall development, according to UBC's Dr. Mariana Brussoni, a renowned expert in pediatric and injury prevention.

Unleashing the Transformative Potential of Risky Play

Defining Risky Play: Embracing Uncertainty and Exploration

Risky play encompasses any form of thrilling and exciting play where children engage with uncertainty and the potential for physical injury. This could include a child racing down a hill on their bike, climbing a tree, or fencing with sticks. It's the kind of play where children push beyond their previous limits, discover the capabilities of their bodies, and ultimately figure things out for themselves. The level of risk varies from child to child, even at the same developmental stage, as each individual navigates their own boundaries and comfort zones.

The Multifaceted Benefits of Risky Outdoor Play

Risky outdoor play offers a wealth of benefits that extend far beyond physical health. While it does provide opportunities for children to be active and develop diverse physical skills, it also delivers significant emotional, social, and cognitive advantages. Engaging in risky play helps children overcome their fears, build critical thinking abilities, and become accustomed to coping independently with challenging situations. The Canadian Paediatric Society has recognized the importance of risky play, going so far as to encourage pediatricians to consider it as a means of preventing and managing a range of health issues in children, from obesity to anxiety.

Empowering Parents to Embrace Risky Play

Encouraging risky outdoor play this summer requires a delicate balance of time, space, and freedom. Parents must carve out dedicated time for their children to explore, create stimulating play environments, and empower kids to play as they wish. This doesn't necessarily mean investing in fancy new playgrounds with fixed equipment; instead, it's about providing an interesting space where children can use their imagination and interact with loose parts, such as sand, leaves, sticks, and stones, or materials like tires, tarps, and crates.

Navigating the Safety Conundrum

As parents, the natural instinct is to keep our children as safe as possible. However, this desire to protect can sometimes result in setting too many limits, which can hinder healthy development. Dr. Brussoni encourages a balanced approach, where children are kept as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible. She suggests the "17-second rule" – the next time you feel the urge to intervene, count to 17 and assess whether the situation truly requires your involvement. More often than not, you'll find that your child has managed the situation on their own, building crucial skills for the future.

Fostering Risky Play Indoors

When extreme heat or wildfire smoke forces children to stay indoors, the same principles of time, space, and freedom can be applied to create engaging "risky" play alternatives. Encourage your child to explore and use their imagination with household items like boxes, pillows, or even pots and pans from the kitchen. The key is to step back, allow your child to play as they choose, and trust in their ability to navigate the challenges they encounter.Ultimately, the message is clear: risky play, whether outdoors or indoors, is essential for children's health and development. By empowering our kids to explore, take calculated risks, and overcome their fears, we are equipping them with the skills and resilience they need to thrive in the world.