The Power of Risk: Why Risky Play Is a Right, Not a Privilege
In today’s world, many parents and educators feel uneasy about letting children engage in risky play. It's natural to want to keep children safe, but by eliminating risk, are we actually holding them back? Experts like Dr. Peter Gray, Angela Hanscom, and Angus Gorrie argue that risky play isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential for a child’s development, mental health, and future resilience.
What Is Risky Play?
Risky play involves activities that challenge children physically and mentally, offering them opportunities to assess risk, make decisions, and build resilience. This type of play is essential for childhood development, allowing children to learn boundaries, gain confidence, and develop problem-solving skills. According to research, risky play is crucial for long-term mental health, helping children develop emotional regulation, self-confidence, and resilience to stress.
The 6 Core Types of Risky Play
Risky play has traditionally been categorized into six main types, each providing unique developmental benefits:
Playing at Heights – Climbing trees, scaling playground structures, or balancing on logs. This develops spatial awareness, risk assessment, and physical coordination.
Playing at Speed – Running fast, riding bikes downhill, or swinging high. It enhances motor skills, balance, and quick decision-making.
Playing with Dangerous Tools – Using knives for whittling, saws for building, or hammers for constructing. This promotes fine motor skills, focus, and responsibility.
Playing Near Dangerous Elements – Activities near water, fire, or natural obstacles. They foster respect for natural forces and improve situational awareness.
Rough-and-Tumble Play – Play fighting, wrestling, or playful tackling. This encourages social bonding, physical strength, and emotional regulation.
Playing Where There’s a Chance of Getting Lost – Exploring unknown areas, secret hideouts, or neighborhood wanderings. It builds independence, problem-solving, and navigation skills.
Two Emerging Types of Risky Play
In recent years, two additional types of risky play have gained recognition for their impact on development:
7. Play with Impact – Activities like slamming a bike into a wall, hammering nails, or hitting a stick against the ground. This type of play teaches cause and effect, enhances sensory awareness, and provides a healthy outlet for energy.
8. Vicarious Risky Play – Observing others engaging in risky activities. Watching a peer climb a high tree or use a sharp tool helps children learn through observation, building their confidence and understanding of risk without direct involvement.
Why Risky Play Matters for Mental Health and Development
Risky play is not just about physical challenges; it’s a key factor in mental health and emotional well-being. Dr. Peter Gray notes that the decline of play in schools correlates with rising levels of anxiety and depression in children. Risky play helps children build resilience, self-regulation, and emotional strength—essential traits for facing future challenges.
Angela Hanscom, founder of Timber Nook, emphasises that movement-rich, outdoor play supports sensory integration and helps prevent sensory overload, a common issue in today's overstimulating environments. By engaging in risky play, children experience the natural sensory input their bodies crave, which supports their cognitive, emotional, and physical development.
Angus Gorrie of The Outsiders highlights that when children are trusted with risk, they develop a deep sense of responsibility and awareness. This trust empowers them to become confident, capable decision-makers, preparing them for life’s inevitable risks and challenges.
Risk and the Right to Play
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 31) states that all children have the right to play, including the freedom to engage in risky play. When we deny children this right, we inadvertently hinder their ability to grow into resilient, adaptable adults. Risky play is not just a privilege—it is a fundamental right that shapes their future.
How to Shift Your Mindset and Trust Children with Risk
Here are some tips to help challenge your comfort levels and embrace risky play:
Start Small: Introduce manageable risks, like climbing low trees or using basic hand tools.
Observe, Don’t Hover: Step back and let children lead. They’ll often surprise you with their caution and creativity.
Educate Yourself: Learn about the benefits of risky play from experts like Dr. Gray, Hanscom, and Gorrie to build confidence in your decision.
Talk About Risks: Discuss potential hazards with children, helping them develop their own risk assessment skills.
Focus on the Benefits: Remember that every scraped knee is a learning experience, building resilience and confidence.
Trust the Process: Children naturally push their boundaries but are wired to avoid serious harm. Trust that they know their limits.
Examples from Wild Gully
At Wild Gully, we’ve seen firsthand how risky play transforms children. Whether it’s climbing tall trees, learning to whittle, or participating in fire education, they grow more confident, capable, and resilient. These experiences don’t just build skills—they build character.
By embracing risk, we’re giving children the tools to navigate life’s challenges. Risky play isn’t dangerous—it’s empowering. So, let’s trust our children, step back, and watch them thrive.
Are you ready to let your child experience the freedom of risky play?
