to learn how to manage risk
themselves. To deny at least access
to acceptable levels of risk is to
deny children the opportunity to
engage with and learn from risks.
The risks that children encounter
in life are the sorts of risks that
life tends to throw up on a daily
basis, and these risks are not
limited to the risk of physical harm.
Children will expose themselves to
emotional and psychological risks
as they engage with their friends
and other children.
We all make judgements as we
progress through life, and as
adults we make such judgements
when we consider what sorts of
risks are appropriate for children
to encounter. To a large extent,
the physical and emotional risks
to which children are exposed
through their interactions with
their environment and peers are
obvious or apparent to the child,
and become more obvious as they
grow older and more accustomed
to the world around them. As
parents and policy makers, it is
incumbent upon us to consider
the risks, but also, importantly, to
consider the wider implications of
our decision making – upon what
basis are we making judgements? If
we set reasonable policy objectives
in terms of benefits to children,
then the judgements that we make
can be set against that policy, such
that our reputations will be intact
and our children will benefit from
excellent play opportunities.
By way of example, if I stop my
child from climbing a tree on the
basis that he might fall and hurt
himself, then I can be sure that he
will not be harmed by falling from
a tree. However, what about the
missing bits to which I referred
earlier? What benefit is there
in climbing trees? What are the
consequences of stopping my child
from climbing the tree? He will not
learn to climb trees so he will be
denied the fun that comes from it,
he will be denied the freedom of
choice and he will be denied the
ability to learn how to climb a tree!
The next time he climbs a tree with
his friends, he has one less learning
experience upon which to draw,
and there is more likelihood that
he will fall! The more experienced he
becomes at climbing trees, the higher
he will climb, and potentially the
more risk he will expose himself to.
However, he will have an awareness
of the risk that he is letting himself
in for and will tend to self-limit. The
higher he goes, the more careful he
becomes and the more exciting the
experience becomes.
So when considering what
judgements to make on children’s
behalf, we should consider the
benefits of allowing exposure to
risk and the consequences of our
choices.
Landscape & Urban Design
67