I’ve read a few parenting books lately that have explicitly instructed parents to give their children opportunities to take healthy risks. There are many benefits to healthy risk taking, including increasing confidence, encouraging independence, and reducing anxiety. After reading the examples of healthy risk-taking in children, I realized this is something my husband and I already implement, so I wanted to share a few simple ways you can add some healthy risk-taking into your family’s routine.
Watch Your Language
I suggest straying from warning-type language like, “be careful” when your kids are trying something that makes you nervous. Many times they’re not scared or worried until they hear a cautionary phrase. Instead try asking, “What’s your plan?” I pose this question when my kids are climbing a tree, or reaching a little too far into a creek. This question gives them pause, and makes them think instead of worrying them. It also is a way to get kids thinking about natural consequences. For example, if I reach too far into the creek, I’ll probably fall in.
What Goes Up, Must Come Down
I know it’s really hard, but keep in mind that if your child climbed up a slide or other apparatus, most likely, they can get down independently. I remember when my daughter climbed up the slide at Children’s Museum of Richmond and realized she was too scared to slide back down. There were some tears as I told her from the bottom that I believed in her, and suggested she ask a big kid at the top for help. It was hard for me to watch, and I told myself if she was still upset after a couple minutes, I’d go up and rescue her. She ended up asking an older child to help her and she came down with the biggest smile on her face. I praised her for her courage, and she was so proud of herself. We ended up spending the rest of our time at CMoR at the slide as she went down the slide over and over.
Starting around age 2, I’d tell my kids that if they climbed up something, they’d have to be able to get themselves down. It wasn’t always easy watching them struggle to figure out how to get back down from a climbing wall or intimidating slide, but each experience has helped them build confidence, and something to draw back on the next time they’re facing something daunting.
Relax
Our kids feed off our emotions. When we’re fearful, they can sense it. As tough as it is to watch our kids try things that could end in tears or wet clothing or worse, offering them these experiences is important. For your children to fully benefit from trying new things, it’s essential to accept their mistakes or big feelings while taking these risks.
Infuse Healthy Risk-Taking around RVA
Ready to try adding some healthy risk-taking into your family’s next outing? Here are a few ideas:
- Tree climbing or climbing the Riverreach at Maymont
- Sliding/climbing at CMoR
- Ride the pump track at Belle Isle
- Roller coasters at Kings Dominion
- Creek splashing at Forest Hill Park
- Ropes course at Tree Time
Does your family incorporate healthy risk-taking into your everyday? Send me a message. I’d love to hear about it! For more information about healthy risk-taking, I recommend reading The Anxious Generation and Raising a Kid Who Can.
