You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.
– Eleanor Roosevelt

There continues to be much debate in the early care and education field about what defines an “appropriate risk.” Rusty Keeler’s book, Adventures in Risky Play, was written to support educators in defining their comfort level with “risk,” especially when it comes to outdoor play.

Keeler explains that “opportunities for measured risk-taking can create more able-bodied and self-assured children who will be better equipped to live safer lives in the long run than if we overly protect them to be safe in the momentary short term. If we stop children from being able to come in contact with perceived risky situations or elements in their worlds, we are setting them up to be less able to know how to be safe in the future when we are not around to protect them. We want durable, resilient, sensible children who grow up to become durable, resilient, sensible adults.”

He also supports administrators and educators in honestly coming to terms with their comfort levels when it comes to risk, noting that what feels “risky” to a small child should never actually be dangerous.