Can a child be a risk-taker?
Can a child be a risk-taker?
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Restricting children’s opportunities limits their growth. Allowing them too much freedom too soon leaves them unprepared for potential challenges.
Restricting children’s opportunities limits their growth. Allowing them too much freedom too soon leaves them unprepared for potential challenges.
Risk-taking is an essential quality to be a successful individual. But can a little child understand the kind of risks that they can take?
Risk-taking is an essential quality to be a successful individual. But can a little child understand the kind of risks that they can take?
Taking risks and succeeding can motivate children to seek further achievements. Failing can lead to testing new ideas, and finding personal capabilities and limits. In this way, children can overcome fears and build new skills.
Taking risks and succeeding can motivate children to seek further achievements. Failing can lead to testing new ideas, and finding personal capabilities and limits. In this way, children can overcome fears and build new skills.
Risk-taking during early childhood involves kids experimenting and pushing themselves to figure out what will happen, without knowing the exact outcome. Taking risks in early childhood can help develop a child's self-confidence, resilience, executive functioning abilities and even risk-management skills. However, knowing when to give a child more independence and when to set limits is one of the most challenging aspects of early caregiving. Taking risks in a safe environment builds confidence and teaches valuable life skills. Children learn self-regulation, for example, “How fast can I ride my bike and still stop quickly?”
Risk-taking during early childhood involves kids experimenting and pushing themselves to figure out what will happen, without knowing the exact outcome. Taking risks in early childhood can help develop a child's self-confidence, resilience, executive functioning abilities and even risk-management skills. However, knowing when to give a child more independence and when to set limits is one of the most challenging aspects of early caregiving. Taking risks in a safe environment builds confidence and teaches valuable life skills. Children learn self-regulation, for example, “How fast can I ride my bike and still stop quickly?”
Allowing children appropriate independence sends the message, “I trust you.” and helps us see areas where the child might need additional guidance or support.
Allowing children appropriate independence sends the message, “I trust you.” and helps us see areas where the child might need additional guidance or support.
Healthy risk-taking behaviour can be encouraged. However, it is also important to remember that children develop at their own paces. What might be completely appropriate for one child might not be for another child. Considering the child’s level of mastery with relevant skills when deciding about an activity can help to decide. Anticipating the challenges your child might experience and the necessary skills ahead of time will help them develop those skills for later use.
Healthy risk-taking behaviour can be encouraged. However, it is also important to remember that children develop at their own paces. What might be completely appropriate for one child might not be for another child. Considering the child’s level of mastery with relevant skills when deciding about an activity can help to decide. Anticipating the challenges your child might experience and the necessary skills ahead of time will help them develop those skills for later use.
Breaking activities down by skill is a helpful strategy that can bridge the gap between too little and too much risk. For example, we cannot allow young children to use a lift, but after a certain age, we can allow them to take the stairs independently to reach home. Before we allow a child to take the stairs all by themselves, accompanying them and showing the way, training them on how to be safe, not speak to strangers, etc. is crucial. As we practice challenging activities together, slowly give more freedom. In a slow, incremental way, children learn the skills they need gradually while we’re available to supervise and offer support.
Breaking activities down by skill is a helpful strategy that can bridge the gap between too little and too much risk. For example, we cannot allow young children to use a lift, but after a certain age, we can allow them to take the stairs independently to reach home. Before we allow a child to take the stairs all by themselves, accompanying them and showing the way, training them on how to be safe, not speak to strangers, etc. is crucial. As we practice challenging activities together, slowly give more freedom. In a slow, incremental way, children learn the skills they need gradually while we’re available to supervise and offer support.
As early caregivers, the best strategy is to find a balance between overprotectiveness and nonchalance. That middle ground allows children to try new things, make mistakes, and solve problems within a safe structure. Thus, giving them the best chance to learn the essential skill of risk-taking.
As early caregivers, the best strategy is to find a balance between overprotectiveness and nonchalance. That middle ground allows children to try new things, make mistakes, and solve problems within a safe structure. Thus, giving them the best chance to learn the essential skill of risk-taking.
Warm Regards,
Warm Regards,
Purva Deosugur
Purva Deosugur
Early Years Coordinator
Early Years Coordinator
Kanakia Kids IS
Kanakia Kids IS
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