Why it's important not to stop your child from taking risks when playing outdoors: step aside and don't say "be careful!"
Helicopter parents can be easily distinguished from other parents. They are always in the field of view of their children, trying to prevent any potential misfortune.
The Conversation writes: "Overprotecting a child is harmful and can lead to a lack of resilience and perseverance. In addition, as a result of hothouse parenting, children have difficulty solving problems and taking initiative."
In turn, educators who study "risky environments" have conducted a study looking at parents' perceptions of an outdoor play park. It shows how such locations provide children with the opportunity to engage in "daring" games, develop independence and problem-solving skills.
The importance of risk
Risk means engaging in any behavior or activity with an uncertain physical, social, emotional, or financial outcome.
Risk is an everyday part of life, from driving a car to buying a house at auction to climbing a flight of stairs.
We can't get rid of risk, so we need to learn how to deal with it. This means taking responsibility for assessing the possible consequences and taking the necessary precautions. For example, crossing the road involves risk, but we learn to look out for cars or cross the road at traffic lights if the road is very busy.
Recognizing risk and responding appropriately to it is an integral aspect of children's growth and development. In 1998, American educator and wilderness guide Jeff Liddle noted that risk-taking plays an important role in lifelong learning.
Outdoor recreation is a particularly good place to develop risk-taking skills because it is an uncontrolled environment. For example, there are unlikely to be two identical trees to climb in such a place, and conditions can change depending on the weather.
How to support your child in risky outdoor play
How do you support your child in their risky outdoor play when you go to the park? Here are some tips based on the work of experts in the field of children, risk, and outdoor play.
Start with a positive attitude
Playgrounds are designed to develop physical and social skills. Therefore, be prepared for your child to try new things in the park (and not just play safely with the same "safe" toys).
Be ready to support and step aside
There are times when it's best to step back and let your child experience a device or area on their own. In other cases, parents are simply needed. So keep an eye on what's going on, but don't try to help all the time.
Language matters
Try to avoid expressions such as "be careful2. This can make the child fearful of the situation. Reword your statements to be more friendly, such as "is there a sturdier piece of wood to put your foot on?" or "did you see that hole over there?"
You can also say something like: "Look around, do you want to explore the left or right side?" This encourages the child to think about what to do and builds self-confidence and problem-solving skills.
Give useful advice
Help children with specific recommendations on how to use the equipment safely. For example, when climbing, you might say, "Use three points of contact: two hands and one foot on this ladder."
Let the child decide
Allow your child to make decisions about where to play, what to play with, and how far to climb. Don't push him to do things he doesn't like. At the same time, intervene if any devices are beyond their skill level.
