Allowing Reasonable Risk
In reflecting on our lovely day at the local show, one thing has really stayed with me.
The highlight of the show this year for me was the woodchopping. Up there with the big blokes (and ladies!) was a little tyke the tender age of 5. He stood on his block like the others, one foot on either end of the wood, and chopped right through between his feet. I couldn’t help but notice how sharp and shiny his axe was as he swung it up into the air, and back down into the wood again and again. It took him a long time, but the crowd were right behind him and let up a cheer when he finally split that log in two.
Watching the axe in that child’s hand made me think about the risks we do, and more often than not don’t, allow our children to take. This child was obviously very capable. He had been taught by someone who knew what they were doing, and he had the right tool in his hands. I’m not saying that we should all rush out and buy our kids axes, but I am saying that we often underestimate what our children are capable of, given the right training and tools.
How often as parents and educators do we insist on only putting safety scissors into a child’s hands for fear of him cutting himself, when he is actually capable of wielding an axe?
Always, always we have a duty of care when we work with children, but this should not mean we eliminate all risk. To read more from other educators who believe in making things “as safe as necessary, rather than as safe as possible” check out these bloggers:
- Teacher Tom in the US
- Juliet from I’m A Teacher – Get Me OUTSIDE here! (Creative Star Learning) in the UK
- Jenny from Let The Children Play in Australia
- Donna and Sherry from Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning also Australia
These educators allow reasonable risk and encourage their young students to climb, construct, get wet, get dirty and use all manner of tools including hot glue guns, saws, hammers and more. In doing so they encourage the students to assess risk for themselves, to learn about consequences, and to discover what their bodies can and cannot do.
Do you allow your children to take reasonable risks?
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One of my favorite pictures of my daughter shows her wielding a large pair of pruning shears. When I first looked out the window and saw her handling these things I almost yelled out at my husband, “What are you thinking?” But I stopped and watched her for a minute first. She was using them properly and she had an intense look of concentration on her face (which is saying a lot for her). I decided to trust Dad’s teaching and supervision. When she came in later to describe her “big project” to help Dad fill up the garbage cans with branches I was glad I refrained from the safety lecture. She got a big boost in confidence and enjoyed every minute of working with Dad.
.-= KDL´s last blog ..The Power of Friendship =-.
I remember always having such a great time making camp fires – looking back probably wasn’t super duper safe, but then again maybe it did teach me some great lessons.
As an aunt though, I think I’ll leave the risk taking up to the parents, who know what they’re doing!
I always let my kids climb wherever they want…with the forewarned clear understanding that where ever they get to, they have to get themselves back down, as I refuse to rescue.
They are all good climbers who are willing to try new challenges, but also will only climb as far as they are comfortable at the time. I have never found this rule to limit them, as they set their own personal challenges to go a bit higher or to try a new branch (or further up the clothes line…)
Love this post – agree totally!
I only learned how to use a hammer after hitting my own thumb a few times. That’s the only way to learn to use a hammer or just about any other real tool. Knives? I let a little blood learning to use them. Injuries are part of how we learn. I like to say that every injury we help a child avoid is just an injury we push off into the future.
I’ve noticed the same thing you have, if you give young children the responsibility of real tools, real experiences, they tend to concentrate more and take responsibility for themselves. They feel trusted and respected. They feel less of a need to test boundaries.
On the other hand, I’ve noticed that our large foam rubber blocks are just about the most dangerous toy we have at school. They seem safe, harmless, and therefore the kids play with a recklessness that almost always leads to tears.
Thanks for the link! =)
.-= Teacher Tom´s last blog ..We Are Amazing Teachers =-.
I grew up with a fear of doing many things so to encourage a less fearful nature in my kids I’ve allowed them to give most things a go. Both my girls love to use real scissors, they enjoy climbing and love to use knives when helping in the kitchen. I’m really keen to try using the glue gun and hammers with the girls when I set up a spot for them. (Did you see Jamie’s Food Revolution the night the kids were given knives to eat their food. The kitchen cooks wouldn’t allow primary school kids to eat with knives. Crazy!)
You’ve listed a great lot of blogs Cath. They challenge me to take my girls fun + learning that step further. Great post!
.-= Busy Brissy Mum´s last blog ..Five for Friday – Five Things That Made Me Smile This Week =-.
Great post. Injuries are part of learning. The amount of scars my kids have are a reminder of their risk taking adventures-from climbing trees to no hands on their bikes. Just last week, Samuel, my youngest, helped me prepare wood samples for my nature class. He had to hand saw the wood into strips then drill a hole in each disk with an electric drill. He was thrilled to be allowed the opportunity to help and did an amazing job.
Thanks for a great post.
Great post – I think a certain amount of risk taking is essential for all children. As they grow they learn how to deal with a variety of situations and then can develop the skills to make their own risk assesment! My son is incredibly creative and forever has a pair of adult scissors in his hands whilst making his latest artistic work of art. His younger sister wants to do whatever he is doing, and like you there are discussions about sensible use of scissors or climbing trees or whatever else it may be that they are doing that has potential dangers. If they are allowed to take a few risks now maybe this will be good practice for taking some amazing risks when they are adults (in work, in travel, etc…)
I love the idea of ‘as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible’. I’m loosening up with my boys, trying to allow more risk. I close my eyes as Mr6 swooshes down the ramp at the skate park on his scooter – rather than shouting ‘NOOOOO’. So far, so good.
.-= Life In A Pink Fibro´s last blog ..Romeo and Juliet- A Fibrotown Fable II =-.
Here in New Zealand the kindergartens for 3 & 4 year olds have work benches with real saws, hammers, nails etc. It’s great & I’m all for it! My little girl is always bringing home things she’s proudly hammered together.
Cath sometimes I think we almost need permission from other adults/peers to feel it is okay to offer children ‘dangerous’ objects to ‘play’ with. For example we toyed with the hot glue gun idea all year but when Tom continued to put them into the hands of his children, some as young as two we figured if he was doing it safely we could too. Now the children are keen to get them out to ‘play’ and they LOVE it! This year our kinder children have used hammers and nails, electric drill, iron, lighted candles, hot glue gun, diluted bleach, adult scissors and the hand saw resulting in one finger burn from the iron, one finger burn from the hot glue gun and fifty four very happy and more knowledgeable children!
Donna
Thank you for the link Cath!
.-= Sherry and Donna´s last blog ..- talking cups =-.
My son has helped in the kitchen since he could stand. I was amazed at how easily he understood and remembered which things were hot and could not be touched. He would very carefully stir pots, chop softer veggies (or play dough if he wanted to keep going), always with supervision to be sure he stayed safe, but he really didn’t need much. He is 4 now and has never gotten hurt plus he loves cooking!
Knowing that he is capable of this and enjoys so much being a part of this daily activity, makes plastic food toys seem really silly (at least for our housefhold).
Such a thought provoking post. I’m in both camps I guess! I get funny looks for letting Will play with my scissors, but he knows how to use them, and the other ones don’t cut! Then at other times I think he’s too little or I’m too scared. I’ll be thinking of the chopping boy then!
.-= Ash´s last blog ..Behind the scenes – Custom designed Name Cushions for Jack and Noah =-.
Sometimes it’s best to not look; that’s what I tell myself when any of my children try to master the art of skateboarding, climbing the big tree, trying to do forward flips.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Good to read your post, and the comments – have you noticed how little adult interaction (as well as child interest and engagement) happens in a “safe as possible” environment? When a child is using real tools it requires adult involvement, coaching, monitoring, supervising of the child at work…so much learning and sharing…