How to Help Your Child Take Age Appropriate Risks

As a parent, it can be difficult to let your child take risks, recognizing that they could fail at something.

But, failure is an important part of life. It builds resiliency, dedication, and even self-esteem. 

Obviously, not all risks are age-appropriate.

The last thing you want is for your child to do something that could cause them to get hurt.

But, allowing your child to take age-appropriate risks and knowing how to encourage and support them can make a big difference in how they see themselves and the world around them. 

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how you can help your child take age-appropriate risks and build resiliency early on in their life. 

Look At Yourself

You are your child’s greatest role model. How you handle everyday risks will impact them more than you might think.

So, check how you regularly respond to risks, and determine what you can change to help with any anxieties you might be holding onto. 

Take a deep breath, and try practices like mindfulness and meditation to help you feel better about appropriate risk-taking.

You might end up opening up a whole new world for yourself while allowing your child to see that taking risks can be healthy and empowering. 

Talk About Failure

We tend to learn early on in life that failure is a bad thing. When you’re a parent, it’s important to reframe that idea for your child. 

Obviously, no one wants to fail. It doesn’t feel good in the moment. But, so many good things can come from failure.

Some of the most successful people in history failed multiple times before achieving their dreams. 

Discuss what failure really is, and look at it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

When you reframe it that way for your child, they’ll be more likely to be comfortable with taking risks, because failure doesn’t seem so daunting. 

Take Baby Steps

Start small when it comes to letting your child take risks.

Doing so will help you both feel more comfortable and confident, and it will give you a better idea of what they’re ready for. 

Some ideas could be trying new foods at dinner, climbing trees, going further on the playground, or riding their bike faster than before.

While these might seem like small things, they can feel like big milestones to your child.

When they realize what they’re capable of doing, they’ll be more likely to take healthy, meaningful risks throughout their life. 

Talk About Risks

Talking about potential risks when you’re not actually involved in one can help your child hone their problem-solving skills.

• For example, you could ask them what they might do in a particular risky situation, and how they would respond if they failed. 

• You can also use past risks as teaching opportunities.

• Discuss what your child did, ask them how they felt, and talk about what they might do differently next time. 

It’s not always easy to avoid the “be careful!” part of parenting. But, do your best not to hover.

It’s important to be there and serve as a support system.

You are your child’s source of comfort, and it’s essential to fill that role when they’re trying something risky.

Serve as an encouraging voice without hindering them or putting them in a proverbial bubble. 

If you’re struggling when it comes to letting your child take age-appropriate risks, don’t worry.

It’s understandable, as a parent, to have some concerns about letting your little one fly.

Let’s connect and talk about it.

We’ll cover why risks can be helpful and healthy, and come up with effective strategies that will help both you and your child feel more comfortable with age-appropriate risk-taking.