Should You Let Your Child Take Risks During Play?
Risky play is thrilling, child-led play that gently pushes kids out of their comfort zone, which research shows is great for their development.
It supports executive function, self-confidence, social-emotional skills, and physical health across all age groups, from babies to school-aged children.
You can encourage risky play by giving your child space to explore and swapping "Be careful!" for questions that promote problem-solving.
As a parent or caregiver, you probably look for all the ways to lessen risk while your child plays. You might catch yourself batting their hand away when they try to touch things they shouldn’t or rushing after them when they wander where they’re not supposed to go, all because you want your little one to be safe.
But research shows allowing children to take more risks during playtime is actually a good thing! It’s often called “risky play” for toddlers and children (and even babies!), and it has many benefits for their development.
What is risky play?
Risky play is a thrilling, free type of play—often outdoors—in which a child takes on new physical challenges, tests boundaries, or tries activities that carry a risk of injury. It’s the kind that might make you say, “Be careful!” or “Don’t touch that!” when your kid gets a little too adventurous or curious for your comfort.
There are 8 categories of risky play:
Play with great heights, such as climbing trees or structures
Play with high speed, such as running quickly
Play with real tools, such as digging with a small metal shovel
Play near risky natural elements, such as pricky plants
Rough-and-tumble play, such as wrestling with another child
Play where children can get lost, such as hide-and-seek outside
Play with impact, such as crashing into walls or furniture
Vicarious play, such as watching another child jump off a swing
Risky Play vs. Hazardous Play: What's the Difference?
Risky play doesn’t mean dangerous play. It should gently push children out of their comfort zone, but it shouldn’t put them in harm’s way. Risky play becomes hazardous when children engage in activities they aren’t developmentally ready for, or that pose an immediate danger to their safety.
For an infant or young toddler, hazardous play might look like playing near stairs before they understand the risks of falling or are physically able to catch themselves. For a school-aged kid, it can look like playing in a pool without knowing how to swim or using flotation devices.
Benefits of Risky Play for Children
Allowing your child to take more risks at playtime supports more areas of development than you might expect:
Executive function: They use mental flexibility to tackle a new challenge and assess risks.
Self-confidence and resilience: They gain trust in their abilities and learn to push through setbacks.
Social-emotional skills: They learn how to navigate a wide range of emotional states and challenging social situations.
Physical health: They practice motor skills to their limit, building strength and endurance.
And here’s one that may come as a surprise: injury reduction. Through risky play, children learn what their bodies are and aren’t capable of, and that self-awareness makes them safer over time.
What Risky Play Looks Like by Age
Children of all ages can engage in risky play (yes, babies too!), but it will look different for each age group!
Risky Play for Babies and Young Toddlers (6 months-2 years old)
Babies can try risky play when they have strong head control and become more mobile, around 6 months. Babies and young toddlers should always play under close supervision. All play areas should be appropriately baby-proofed.
Crawling over soft obstacles or uneven surfaces
Doing sensory play in nature, like Tummy Time in the grass
Playing with safe “adult” objects, such as a TV remote with the batteries removed
Being lifted high in the air while held (securely) or swung at different speeds
Crawling over soft obstacles is one example of risky play for babies. Risky Play for Older Toddlers and Preschoolers (2-5 years old)
Keep a close eye on toddlers and preschoolers during risky play and assist them when necessary. Give them more and more space as they grow.
Going down a playground slide with minimal help
Running around freely outdoors or at an indoor play gym
Exploring and playing with mud, plants, water, and other natural elements
Watching other kids engage in risky play (spectator behavior is common around 2 years old!)
Risky Play for School-Aged Children (5+ years old)
Depending on the level of risk involved, school-aged children may engage in risky play independently (with a caregiver in another room/inside while kids are outdoors) or with distant supervision from adults.
Experimenting with different speeds while riding a bike
Climbing a tree or tall playground structures
Using “grown-up” sports equipment, like a wooden baseball bat
Playing hide-and-seek in the dark or tag with other children
Using grown-up tools, like a shovel, is a form of risky play for school-aged kids.
How to Encourage Risky Play at Home
Encouraging risky play is as simple as giving your child space to explore! They should get at least 60 minutes of unstructured playtime every day. It helps to have a dedicated area where older kids can play on their own while you watch from a distance, whether that's a backyard playset or an indoor playroom. And as hard as it can be, try not to hover too much. Unless your child is in real danger, stepping back and letting them figure things out on their own is a great way to build trust and confidence.
What to Say Instead of “Be Careful!”
This phrase is practically a built-in reflex once you become a parent, so it can be tough to avoid! However, when children are constantly told to stop or be careful, they may never learn why they should do that. Instead of telling children this, try these ideas:
Make them more aware of their surroundings: “Do you see the bush there? It has prickly thorns.”
Encourage problem-solving: “Maybe you can find a stepping stone that’s closer and easier to reach.”
Ask questions: “How will you get up there?” or “What will you do if you need help?”
Keeping Risky Play from Becoming Hazardous
It's always important to consider your child's age, abilities, and surroundings so risky play doesn't turn hazardous. For babies and young toddlers, that means close supervision in a baby-proofed space. For older children, it means scanning for environmental hazards, keeping tools and equipment in good condition, and listening for cues that they need help.
Stepping back takes some getting used to, but watching your child grow more capable and confident with every challenge they take on is well worth the risk!
Sources
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Bowden, N., et al. “Risky Play for Children Birth to 3 Years in Early Childhood Education Services: A Study of Educators’ Perspectives.” Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, vol. 51, no. 1, 8 June 2025, pp. 5–17. Sage Journals, 10.1177/18369391251349552. Accessed 15 July 2026.
Brussoni, Mariana. “Risky Play and Children’s Safety: Balancing Priorities for Optimal Child Development.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 9, no. 9, 30 Aug. 2012, pp. 3134–48. PMC PubMed Central, 10.3390/ijerph9093134. Accessed 15 July 2026.
Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. “Risk vs. Hazard: The Value of Risk in Playtime for Children.” PLAYology Playbook, 12 May 2020, https://www.cmosc.org/risk-vs-hazard-the-value-of-risk-in-playtime-for-children/. Accessed 15 July 2026.
Cooper, Maria. Risk and Challenge in Babies” and Toddlers” Play a Froebel Trust Early Childhood Research Highlight by Dr Maria Cooper. Froebel Trust, Oct. 2023, https://files.froebel.org.uk/production/documents/Froebel-Trust-Research-Highlight_babies.pdf. Accessed 15 July 2026.
Hansen Sandseter, E. B., et al. “Risky Play in Children’s Emotion Regulation, Social Functioning, and Physical Health: An Evolutionary Approach.” International Journal of Play, vol. 12, no. 1, 2023, pp. 127–139. Taylor & Francis Online, 10.1080/21594937.2022.2152531. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.
Sandseter, E. B. H., et al. “Associations Between Children’s Risky Play and ECEC Outdoor Play Spaces and Materials.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 7, 2021. MDPI, 10.3390/ijerph18073354. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.
