New Study: Kids Need the Adventure of "Risky" Play
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08. 5.08
Child rock-climbing by Baudesign
A new British study finds the obvious to any modern parent- we overprotect our kids. Half of all kids have stopped climbing trees, and 17 percent have been told that they can't play tag or chase. Even hide-and-seek has been deemed dangerous.
We have previously blamed computers and video games for the decline in outdoor play, but it may well be mom and dad. Adrian Voce of Play England says 'Children are not being allowed many of the freedoms that were taken for granted when we were children,' 'They are not enjoying the opportunities to play outside that most people would have thought of as normal when they were growing up.'
Author Lisa Alther climbing tree
According to the Guardian, "Voce argued that it was becoming a 'social norm' for younger children to be allowed out only when accompanied by an adult. 'Logistically that is very difficult for parents to manage because of the time pressures on normal family life,' he said. 'If you don't want your children to play out alone and you have not got the time to take them out then they will spend more time on the computer.'
The Play England study quotes a number of play providers who highlight the benefits to children of taking risks. 'Risk-taking increases the resilience of children,' said one. 'It helps them make judgments,' said another. Some of those interviewed blamed the 'cotton wool' culture for the fact that today's children were playing it too safe, while others pointed to a lack of equipment or too much concrete in place of grass. The research also lists examples of risky play that should be encouraged including fire-building, den-making, watersports, paintballing, boxing and climbing trees. ::Guardian
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Ever seen WebUrbanist's gallery of adventure playgrounds? They were inspired by WWII ruins and incorporate an element of danger and recreate the style of play that involved, for example, building a backyard fort.
I so, so want one--more for me than for my kids.
Finally! My mom let my brothers and I not only build an igloo during our rare PA blizzard, but after much convincing, she also let us sleep in it over night! I'm sure she sat up all night worrying about us (would it cave in?, would we all have hypothermia by morning?, etc), but she *let us do it*.
It is by far, one of my favorite childhood memories, and I can't even imagine the number of calories we probably burned shoveling, digging, and moving snow to our igloo.
Good to see other people are realizing this problem too.
I totally agree. When I was a kid in the 70s we not only climbed trees and built fires and big forts, but we also regularly jumped off the roof into piles of leaves and other things that would probably get me arrested for child endangerment if I let my kid do them now. I do let him do most of the above though (with some supervision, depending on the activity), much to the shock of my neighbours and other parents who pop by.
My husband and I were talking about this after he heard an article on NPR. Not only are children not allowed to outside to play, but when they do play, it's structured. Soccer practice and football games are good for learning to work with others, but kids aren't allowed to just have free play time and use imagination. It's 'play dates' now. When I was growing up, my parents didn't want me in the house and in the way, so I went outside and played with my neighbor friends. Besides, I didn't want to be in the house - my parents would find me chores to do...
Spread the word! You're right! My aunt and uncle overprotect their 2 year old kid a lot! They don't leave him alone one second, and keep him indoors and covered up all the time! and not only are they retarding his development (he doesn't even walk very well yet), but they're also making him quite weak and sickly :( Kids definitively need to take risks and go outside to learn and become stronger :) And to enjoy nature while it lasts ;)
I agree whole-heartedly with the idea of letting kids take risks. Tinkering School - recently featured on NPR & Makezine's blog - seems to as well! The founder of Tinkering School, Gever Tulley, gave an awesome TEDtalk titled "5 dangerous things you should let your kids do"
For three years, I lead a bike program in Evansville, Indiana, working with kids 10-years-olds and up. We repaired bikes, and went on weekly group rides. The highlight of the program was building custom bikes. The kids regularly used power tools and even did a bit of welding. The kids were aware of the hazards they were dealing with, so with proper instruction & supervision we never had any problems, just much fun & creativity!
I was in grade school in the late 50's and 60's.I walked a mile to Kindergarten, by myself. I rode my bike for miles, far from home, alone and thrived on my growing independence. We built things. We went adventuring far beyond the bounds of our immediate neighborhood, which happened to be forest then but is now all housing development. We sledded and went tabogonning well into twilight and, god forgive my mother, without helmets! Today I am a confident, independent woman able to think for myself and welcome challenge.
When my daughter was about 18 months I was at a very perfect little playground with her. She fell onto the approved-for-falling surface. I could see her out of the corner of my eye but kept on talking to a friend. She looked my way, assessed things, brushed herself off and kept playing. She fell again. Again, I was aware of it but did not react. She was the judge of whether she needed me. She decided not and began to get herself back in order. An irate mom stomped over to me and loudly warned that she would report me for reckless endangerment if I let it happen again!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was in '97.
We now live in Nepal, in an area where I allow my kids to roam pretty freely. Some other parents do not. My feeling is this -- if you're not getting dirty, you're not playing hard enough. If you don't break a bone at least once as a kid, you've probably not had the time of your life.
I teach my children how to take care of themselves. I teach them that talking to strangers is a fascinating business, as long as you're in the right place and know how to handle it if things begin to go wrong. I want them to be strong, not scared. I am so very sad for most kids growing up today and so very glad for the opportunities I had and am able to give my children.
So true! I love tree climbing, but there are not that many trees around home suitable for climbing. So I went to summer camp, where there were plenty of trees. I thought "this is great: so many different climbing opportunities"… So during the first chance I get, I start on a low easy tree surrounded by grass. I just lift my feet then "COME DOWN FROM THERE, NOW!". I couldn't believe it:I go to overnight camp, where kids are supposed to expend physical energy and do activities they cannot do at home, and I'm not allowed to climb a tree! For me, playing baseball without a helmet or mit is more dangerous! (I suck, immensly, at all sports.) I discuss it maturely with the camp director, and I was told that it is because they "are liable for my safety". Then I said something silly like "give me a pen and paper and I will wright a contract that says I will pay for my own medical bills" or something…
I did get to climb some trees, when I had a chance by myself, and I never got hurt.
For the adults who, as children, were scared by their parents into neurosis if not outright psychosis due to the parents' overprotection, how does the adult learn to take risks and get the resilience, judgment skills, and coping skills they missed out on as children? Talk therapy doesn't always work for everyone, and medication doesn't teach skills.
Yes, especially in urban cities, it is tough to incorporate nature play for kids. The best I've been able to do is take my son to parks, the zoo, and gardens here and there to look at snails, ants, and run wild and free.
For the adults who, as children, were scared by their parents into neurosis if not outright psychosis due to the parents' overprotection, how does the adult learn to take risks and get the resilience, judgment skills, and coping skills they missed out on as children? Talk therapy doesn't always work for everyone, and medication doesn't teach skills.