Physical Risk-taking: Dangerous or endangered?

Abstract

Young children's enthusiasm for undertaking challenging physical activities is described, and examples are given of physical risk-taking by 4 year olds and by younger children. Having acknowledged the prevalence of such play, three emerging questions are discussed: what are acceptable physical challenges for 4 year olds, how can we juggle the need for challenge with the increasingly restrictive safety requirements, and what may be the wider implications of restricting children's access to physical challenges?