• Risky Play: Understanding the Benefits and Strategies for Safe Child Development

  • Aug 22 2024
  • Length: 31 mins
  • Podcast

Risky Play: Understanding the Benefits and Strategies for Safe Child Development

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  • Curious if OT could help your child's struggles? Download Why Choose OT to find out! --- As a parent, it can be scary to let your children engage in activities that seem dangerous, like climbing trees, riding bikes, or playing rough. But research shows that taking age-appropriate risks through play is actually crucial for children's development - physically, cognitively and emotionally. When we talk about "risky play", we don't mean putting kids in harm's way. Rather, it's about giving them opportunities to test their limits, problem-solve, and build confidence in a relatively safe environment with adult support and supervision. Risky play helps kids develop important skills like risk assessment, body awareness, and emotional self-regulation. But where do we draw the line between healthy risk-taking and dangerous behavior? How can we scaffold risky play experiences so kids progress at an appropriate pace? And what role should we play as parents and caregivers? Whether your child is cautious by nature or an impulsive daredevil, I hope this episode will give you a new perspective on letting kids take risks through play. Let's jump in! In this episode you'll hear about: Executive Functioning Definition: skills required to start, persist, and complete tasksImportance in daily functioning and personal growthResponse inhibition (impulsivity) and its development in childrenRole in safety evaluation and decision-makingRisky Play as defined by the Canadian Pediatric SocietyEight different types of risky play Playing at heightsplaying at speedplay involving toolsplay involving potentially dangerous elementsrough and tumble playplay with risk and disappearing or getting lostplay involving impactsvicarious play Progression of risky play (e.g., playing at height and speed)Importance of teaching children to recognize and evaluate potential dangersNeed for supervision and teaching response inhibitionGradual progression in allowing children to engage in risky playRisky Play vs. Dangerous PlayVaries from person to personFamilies need to evaluate it for themselvesPersonal examples (trampoline for gaga ball and games like Deadman)Benefits of Risky PlayPositive contribution to child development (e.g., response inhibition and emotional control)Vicarious play: watching others engage in risky play and modeling behaviorAccepting children's current skills while allowing for growth and developmentResources available through the homeschool OT communityStrategies for Supporting Risky PlayObservation, communication, and setting boundariesProviding opportunities for practice and evaluationSupporting and observing children's play, communicating openlyImplementing safety measures for various activities (e.g., bike riding, using tools, playing near fire)Adapting Risky Play for Different NeedsMulti-age play and accommodating different children's needsUsing walkie-talkies in games or providing spaces for safe impact activitiesDeveloping children's sensory input, body awareness, and executive functioning skills while maintaining safety Links and Resources From Today's Show Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?Board Games to Teach Executive FunctioningExecutive Functioning Group from Homeschool OTReverse Planning Guide for Homeschool FamiliesThe OT is IN MembershipLife in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the WorldSmart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their PotentialBalanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable ChildrenEight Types of Risky Play, Navigating the balance with injury preventionEpisode 12- Executive Functioning in Homeschooling: A Teenager's Experience with Organization and PlanningEpisode 25- Understanding Hippotherapy: Therapeutic Equestrian Activities for Children's DevelopmentEpisode 26- Sensory Safe Evacuation: Preparing for Emergencies with Kids' Sensory Needs in MindEpisode 27- Preserving Childhood in a Digital World: Greta Eskridge's Expertise for Families
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