Is your favourite childhood play memory outside? Would you describe the activity as risky? How did it make you feel?
Many people would respond to these questions with a yes to being outside, yes it was risky, and it made you feel excited or exhilarated! Would you want to trade in these memories or should your parents be deemed as poor parents because they allowed it to happen? Probably not. So why would we spare our children these experiences and memories?
Statistics demonstrate that in the western world, we live in a generally safe society. Incidents of serious childhood injuries are low as well as the likelihood of a child being abducted by a stranger. If that is so, then why are we so afraid of allowing children to freely explore their world, take risks and to view them as capable and competent?
Dr. Mariana Brussoni is a developmental psychologist specializing in the research of child injury prevention through the University of British Columbia and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
To learn more about some of her research and risky play, we have included a link to her talk at the Uppsala Health Summit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcy8bX9RTRg