Let your child take risks, remove the bubble wrap!

Not only does taking risks help children overcome their fears and build confidence, but doing so also helps children develop strong physical skills that support good body awareness. Having adequate body awareness is essential for the safe navigation of and interaction with the world around us. 

Although letting kids take risks may be scary for us as parents and even children at first, it is an essential part of growing up. Taking risks allows children to overcome physical challenges and strengthens their senses at the same time. These benefits ultimately make them safer and more resilient in the long run. Children need opportunities to fail and make mistakes in order to become more confident and capable when facing future life challenges. 

When a child takes a risk, such as riding a bike for the first time, it can be frightening. At the same time, the child is learning to overcome that fear to reach a goal. In the process of learning to ride a bike successfully, the child learns patience, perseverance, and resilience. They learn to keep trying, even when they continue to fall. In the end, they will be riding their bike well. They overcome obstacles on their own, which contributes to their confidence. 

Research shows that one way children grow and learn is by having permission and opportunities to venture into the unknown: to climb high, wander independently, use grown-up tools, and ride a bike down a hill as fast as they can.  

Give your child permission to take risks. 

Activity: 

Go outside and let your child climb trees. In my experience children will challenge themselves but they won’t go any higher than where they feel comfortable.

With supervision let your child saw a piece of wood with a real saw. Then bang some nails into it with a real hammer.  (Show them, support them, discuss safety ….then let them have a go!)