Parents should be encouraging their kids to embrace a bit of outdoor rough and tumble as new research reveals a lack of risky play could be contributing to future mental health problems.
Founder of Western Kids Health, Nicole Pates, said letting kids feel a thrill and challenging their body is a vital part of development.
“We’re seeing less and less risky play happening and seeing a greater prevalence of lack of resilience and self-confidence,” she said.
Pates is quick to point out risky doesn’t mean dangerous, such as letting kids play with matches. The concept of risky play centres on giving children the opportunity to make their own decisions.
This can be anything from pulling themselves up onto a branch to choosing what rock to climb on.
“Your superpower (as a parent) is choosing where you play,” she said. “Sit within your own comfort zone, and let your child explore from there.”
Part of the reason parents aren’t encouraging kids to take risks is a result of their own confusion around their role in play.
Pates said one of the most common questions she gets is: “I don’t know how to play with my child”.
“Not every adult knows how to play or wants to play — and that’s OK,” Pates explains.
“There is this internal shaming that says ‘you don’t know how to play, you’re not a good parent’, but that’s not true.”
Nature Play WA chief executive officer Dr Kelsie Prabawa-Sear adds it’s also OK to let kids get bored.
“You have to take the responsibility away from the adults for providing the entertainment or the screen or whatever it may be,” she said.
Read the full story on thewest.com.au
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