Appropriate Risk or Actual Hazard?

"The role of an adult in nature play is to be more of a partner or guide than a teacher or director," writes Ruth Wilson in her new book, Learning is in Bloom: Cultivating Outdoor Explorations. "What children need from adults are an inviting environment and the freedom and encouragement to explore that environment."

"Risk taking is one of the elements that makes play enjoyable and leads to growth in physical, social, emotional and cognitive areas of learning. Children are generally good judges about assessing a situation and determining what risks they can handle and which ones they can't.

"Appropriate risks and actual hazards are two different things. Hazards aren't usually visible to a child. A child may not be aware of a hornet's nest under a deck or the danger of suffocation from a plastic bag. We should be aware of these invisible risks and protect children from them, but it’s a mistake to always do the risk assessment for them."

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.

© 2005 Child Care Information Exchange - All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Return to Site