Overprotecting children is a mistake because it prevents them from developing their autonomy and learning to make decisions, even if this means that they make mistakes, and sometimes even take certain risks. Parents who interfere with their children’s games for fear that they will suffer harm can negatively influence their physical activity.
This is the conclusion reached by a new study carried out by researchers at Deakin University (Australia), after analyzing how children behaved when they played outdoors and what attitude their parents showed towards the risks they ran, or the possible injuries they could suffer. The results have been published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise and show that more than three quarters of parents expressed a low tolerance for adventure play.
This parental attitude could help explain why Australian children are not as physically active as they need to be, said Alethea Jerebine, a PhD candidate at Deakin University’s School of Health and Social Development and the Center for Sports, Exercise and Life Sciences from Coventry University in the United Kingdom, and main author of the work.
“Children whose parents were risk tolerant were about three times more likely to engage in one hour a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity.”
“We found that 78% of parents were not interested in their children taking risks when playing, and they put limits on things like climbing trees, riding a bike quickly downhill, or rough play like fighting,” he said. Mrs. Jerebine.
“Children whose parents were risk-tolerant were more physically active and participated in more adventures than children whose parents were risk-averse. These children were around three times more likely to meet the Australian guidelines of one hour a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, which we know is good for their physical and mental development,” she added.
Children need to experience challenges in their games.
To conduct the study, 645 Australian parents (81% female) were asked what play activities they would let their children participate in, how they felt about play injuries, and what they thought about the benefits of taking risks. The average age of the participating children (53% male) was 8.6 years.
“Our results show that although most parents recognize the benefits of taking risks for their children, many are unwilling to allow their children to engage in adventurous play. This suggests that they may have conflicts on the issue,” said Alethea Jerebine.
The researcher explained that giving children the opportunity to experience risks helped them learn about what they can and cannot do, build confidence and independence, as well as manage risk and stay safe. “We also know that children have more mental health problems, especially after the pandemic. “Outdoor play can be a great way to support children’s mental wellbeing and physical development.”
According to Professor Lisa Barnett from the Deakin Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) and Ms Jerebine’s PhD supervisor, children need to experience challenges in their active play to help them develop the “physical literacy” they need. they need to be active for life. And she describes “physical literacy as the physical, social, psychological, and cognitive skills a person needs to develop long-term physical activity patterns.”
“Parental attitudes toward risk and injury are potentially modifiable factors that can increase children’s chances for adventurous play and physical activity. “Interventions are recommended that provide parents with practical approaches to address injury problems and support children’s risk taking when playing outdoors,” the researchers conclude in their article.
