Too Safe for Their Own Good

Book excerpt: Adults often try to create a risk-free environment for children, but this can reduce their opportunities to manage their own risk, making it difficult for them to learn how to judge new situations. This practical guide shows how adults can share their own skills with young children and promote understanding of safety within an interesting learning environment.The first edition made a huge contribution to the debate around children and risk. Over ten years later, this new edition thoroughly re-examines the issues of the first edition and assesses recent developments such as risk-benefit analysis and the importance of outdoor experiences.Written for the full range of practitioners involved with children, it will support them to take the middle path of offering enough challenge to benefit children, while avoiding the extremes of over-protection or careless practice.