The Canadian Paediatric Society says a little risk can be good for kids害羞草研究所� physical and mental well-being.
The national organization issued new recommendations Thursday that encourage kids to engage in unstructured outdoor play 害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渞isky play害羞草研究所� in particular.
It said that type of play varies by child, but is generally defined as 害羞草研究所渢hrilling and exciting free play that involves uncertain outcomes and the possibility of physical injury.害羞草研究所�
Examples include play at height or speed, supervised activities involving tools such as hammers, ropes and knives 害羞草研究所� such as whittling or building 害羞草研究所� and the chance of getting lost.
While it can be scary for parents to allow risk into their kids害羞草研究所� lives, the pediatric group said this sort of play is crucial for children害羞草研究所檚 mental, social and physical development.
But the organization said that doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean ignoring safety regulations. Kids shouldn害羞草研究所檛 be left unsupervised in hazardous areas, nor should they be pushed outside their comfort levels.
It害羞草研究所檚 up to the grown-ups to be aware of hazards, and intervene if the potential harm is more serious than the child is able to recognize and manage.
Dr. Emilie Beaulieu, who authored the society害羞草研究所檚 guidance document, said risky play has been studied for at least 20 years as having multiple benefits including increased physical activity.
害羞草研究所淐hildren are more active, there are lower rates of obesity and there are all these other indicators around cardiovascular health,害羞草研究所� she said in an interview from Quebec City, where she is a pediatrician.
害羞草研究所淲e also see that they are less stressed and have better relationships with their peers,害羞草研究所� said Beaulieu, adding research also suggests kids have fewer conflicts and higher self-esteem when they害羞草研究所檙e allowed more riskier play during recess.
害羞草研究所淚 think where we are now is trying to find the right balance between letting kids play freely and incorporating risk in their play while making sure that they害羞草研究所檙e still safe and avoiding hazards.害羞草研究所�
Monkey bars have resulted in plenty of injuries, and trampolines may be dangerous if children do not land on their feet so parents should consider potential hazards, Beaulieu said.
But telling kids to 害羞草研究所済o play outside害羞草研究所� would help reduce screen time as they benefit from being out in nature, said Beaulieu, who has two young children.
害羞草研究所淲e deal with risky play every day,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 learned from society and my parents. My first thought is, 害羞草研究所淏e careful!害羞草研究所�
Instead, it害羞草研究所檚 best for parents to manage any risks by guiding children and asking them questions, including whether a structure is safe enough to support their weight, she said.
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