#1053 - Is Risky Play Worth the Risk?

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Does "risky play" make you excited or very nervous? The research is clear regarding the many benefits to children who engage in risky play. With it becoming increasingly hard to find public spaces that allow for risky play, we share ideas and tips for how parents can encourage and support their children to engage in risky play at home.

In this episode:

• Old-school playgrounds
• What is risky play?
• Healthy childhood development through outdoor risky play: Navigating the balance with injury prevention | Canadian Paediatric Society
• How to encourage risky play at home
• "You want your kids to be as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible”
• The importance of agency and autonomy in play
• Roald Dahl quote on kids and risks
• Physical development
• Emotional resilience
• Social skills and mental health
• Solving problems
• Risk assessment

Relevant Links:

• Playing It Safe May Be The Biggest Risk Of All
• Resilience: Developing strength, calm and kindness in our kids [Webinar]
• #50 Risks and Rolling Down Hills

Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership

NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together)

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.