E10. Risky Play & What to Say Instead of 'Be Careful'
Episode Description
Has your child ever done something that has made you gasp and want to cover your eyes? Early climbers climbing out of their high chair, children scaling trees so high you can barely spot them or swimming beyond their depth, or teens wrestling like they’re in a WWF match? Good! We hope you may find some relief in the fact that your child is doing EXACTLY what they are designed to do! Take risks! And that is exactly what we’re going to be talking about - Risky Play. What it is, the 6 types of risky play, why children seek out risk, why it’s important and how to incorporate it into your outdoor play.
👉 Our Discussion
What is risky play?
“A thrilling and exciting activity that involves a risk of physical injury, and play that provides opportunities for challenge, testing limits, exploring boundaries and learning about injury risk.”Benefits of Risky Play
“The only way to learn to make good decisions is by practicing making decisions.”The 6 Types of Risky Play
1. Play at heights
2. Play at high speed
3. Play with dangerous tools
4. Play with dangerous elements – fire, water, animals
5. Rough and tumble
6. Play in secret spaces
What is the purpose of risky play?
Risk is not necessarily a danger to be avoided but rather a skill that needs to be managed.
How can help your child manage risky play?
What can you say instead of ’Be Careful!’
In a nutshell, we want our children to be as safe as necessary not a safe as possible.
‘A ship is safe in the harbour - but that is not what ships are built for…’
👉 Freebie
To get you started we have created a ‘’what to say’’ guide so that we can encourage problem solving and personal risk assessment in our children instead of our usual go to response of “Be careful”. To download the Risky Play cheat sheet, simply head to www.wildlingsforestschool.com/free-downloadables
👉 Links and Resources
Categories of Risky Play by Ellen Sandseter, 2007
👉 Guest Details
Vicci Oliver and Nicki Farrell are adventurous nature play makers, risk-takers, children’s rights advocates and the co-founders of Wildlings Forest School. We are the hosts of the ‘Raising Wildlings’ podcast and we put the dirt back in childhood.
Wildlings aims to get more children outdoors connecting with nature, creating the village parents are yearning for and inspiring change in the education system.
During any Wildlings Forest School program, you are likely to find Wildlings up trees, sliding down mud slides, whittling with pocket knives, lighting fires and building rafts. We let kids, be kids - because children can’t learn to protect nature if they’ve never had a childhood in it.
👉 Wildlings Forest School Contact Details
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