176: The Importance of Risky Play with Dr. Mariana Brussoni

Motherhood Meets Medicine

Children are safer today than they have ever been in history, but is that a good thing? What skills and experiences are they losing out on if they’re not exploring the world around them in a way that requires thought and risk?

Dr. Mariana Brussoni is here to share more about this exact phenomenon.

Dr. Brussoni is a Professor at the University of British Columbia, Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership, and Investigator at the British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute. She studies how to bring risky play back to children's lives.

Her research focuses on understanding the effects of outdoor risky play on children and breaking down the barriers to children's access to these opportunities.

Risky play does not necessarily mean dangerous play. Risky play is all about allowing children to experience the world without the ever watchful eyes of their parents. Providing opportunities for them to navigate challenges on their own, outside, with friends and grow into the adults they’re becoming.

In this episode, we discuss:

What differentiates risky and dangerous play.

The developmental benefits of risky play.

How to find the balance between risky and safe play.

How to expose your children to risky play.

Connect with Mariana:

Outside Play-https://www.outsideplay.org/

Questions:

What is risky play and why is it important?

Why is it disappearing from children's lives?

How do we find the balance between risk and safety?

How do we bring back risky play?

Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The information on this podcast is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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