Risky, outdoor play important for children's wellbeing: Pediatricians

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Free play, especially "risky play," is essential for the well-being of children, Canadian pediatricians say. 

The Canadian Pediatric Society released new guidance on Jan. 25, encouraging outdoor play, and risky play in particular. These activities could include things like climbing a tree, wrestling or roughhousing or exploring without an adult. 

While it can be scary for parents to allow their children to engage in risky play, it's crucial to their mental and physical health, the guidance notes. The organization says doctors should think of outdoor, risky play as a way to prevent and manage health problems that include obesity, anxiety and behavioral issues.  

This guidance comes as outdoor, free play and risky play has declined "significantly" in recent years, the organization notes. This is in part due to safety measures that have been put in place to prevent all play-related injuries rather than focusing on preventing serious injuries or fatalities.

"Proponents of risky play differentiate ‘risk’ from ‘hazard’ and seek to reframe perceived risk as an opportunity for situational evaluation and personal development. This statement weighs the burden of play-related injuries alongside the evidence in favor of risky play, including its benefits, risks, and nuances, which can vary depending on a child’s developmental stage, ability, and social and medical context," the guidance says. 

Jen Kiss, a certified parent coach with Happy Parenting and Families based in the Twin Cities, says play is how kids learn about everything.

"They are gaining lots of good skills. They are getting a confidence boost, they are building resilience, they are really learning about their world," said Kiss.

She adds that risky play does not mean unsafe play with no supervision. Rather, it's about letting kids explore their surroundings and learn on their own.

Risky play activities for children

Pediatricians define risky play as play that is "thrilling and exciting" and involves "uncertainty of outcome and a possibility of physical injury." 

Here's a list of risky play activities for children from the Canadian Pediatric Society:

• Playing at a height: Climbing, jumping, balancing at height. This could involve a toddler climbing and jumping from a chair, an older child climbing a tree
• Playing at speed: Bicycling at high speed, sledding, sliding, running
• Play involving tools: Supervised activities involving an axe, saw, knife, hammer, or ropes (e.g., building a den or whittling)
• Play involving potentially dangerous elements: Playing near fire or water
• Rough-and-tumble play: Wrestling, play fighting, fencing with sticks
• Play with risk for disappearing or getting lost: Exploring play spaces, neighborhoods, or woods without adult supervision, or in the case of young children, with limited supervision (such as hiding behind bushes)
• Play involving impacts: Crashing into something or someone, perhaps repeatedly and only for fun
• Vicarious play: Experiencing the thrill of watching other (often older) children engaging in risky play