Let the kids play: Risky activities benefit children, paediatric society says
Global News
Playing at high speed, with tools or where children can get lost builds skills and confidence, the Canadian Paediatric Society says.
Children’s playtime shouldn’t be as safe as possible, doctors say.
Recommendations published Thursday by the Canadian Paediatric Society said “risky play,” defined as any “thrilling and exciting free play … that involves the possibility of physical injury,” can improve physical, mental and social health.
“We now know that children need to experience risk in their life in order to have a normal development,” Dr. Emilie Beaulieu, a pediatrician and the author of the guidelines, told Global News.
The recommendations come amid mixed opinions over a tobogganing ban in Toronto.
Some hills, according to the city, have hazards like trees, rocks and stumps that may make them unsafe for tobogganing.
Speaking from Quebec City, Beaulieu said risky play can include biking at high speed, playing with tools or playing where there is a risk of disappearing, like in a forest.
What constitutes risky play is different for each child and depends on their age, development stage, personality and how confident they are in their skills.
The benefits, Beaulieu said, include kids being more active and having less obesity, lower stress levels and higher self-esteem.
