Why do we value risk-taking in play?
Taking risks during play gives children an opportunity to satisfy their biological drive to engage in play with perceived dangers. Children seek out play that challenges them physically and even scares them a little. This pushes them outside of their comfort zones just enough so that they can gain new skills.
Risky play supports physical, cognitive, and social-emotional competencies. Children who are able to challenge themselves just the right amount in their play enhance their motor skills and coordination. They also have a chance to problem-solve and check in with their internal states. Children develop grit, confidence, and a strong sense of their own capabilities.
Children who have opportunities to take risks through play develop strong risk-assessment skills. This is a key aspect of risky play. We want our children to learn the limits of their own bodies, skills, and emotions. We want them to challenge themselves appropriately. To do this, they must have an intimate understanding of how to trust their own bodies (including their emotions) through repeated experiences taking reasonable risks. Then, when they are faced with something that feels truly beyond their capacity, they will know not to push that far. We want to allow space for them to hone this awareness when a mild fall or a scraped knee is the biggest thing at stake.
