Do any other parents find themselves shrieking ‘Too high!’ ‘Too fast!’ Too far!’ much more often than they thought they would? The thing is, recent studies suggest that reducing risk-taking too much actually hinders the process of development in a child.
But how do we encourage them to take risks in a way that doesn't end up in a trip to the emergency room?
When a toddler is learning to walk, they are running the risk of falling over and hurting themselves. Nevertheless, as parents, we encourage them to take that risk, because we know that the physical and emotional developmental benefits far outweigh the chance for a couple of bruises.
So why do we approach risk taking differently as our children get older?
Studies have shown that children actually need risks in order to develop and learn at an optimum level. Risk taking helps them to become active participants in their communities, as well as knowing how to regulate their own behaviours. The Institute of Childhood at Macquarie University outlines some of the benefits of risk taking:
Children have an innate need for risk. When this need isn’t satisfied with reasonable risks, kids will often seek out their own thrills. These are often much more hazardous experiences, where the potential for harm far outweighs the potential benefits.
When children aren’t given the opportunity to take well-managed risks, there are a number of negative effects, according to the Macquarie University:
So how do we use the power of risk taking in a way that leads to positive benefits for our kids?
The Child and Nature Alliance of Canada has an excellent list of things to say to your child instead of saying ‘be careful!’. Below is a sample, showing how you can help your child to learn how to manage risk effectively:
And while risk-taking on the playground might be a good idea, risk taking when it comes to sun-safety isn't! Make sure they slip, slop, slap, seek and slide on those children's sunglasses whenever they're outside.
Happy adventuring!
The post Why Risk Taking Is Good For Your Kids appeared first on Babiators.
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A good fit is an important part of getting kids to wear their sunglasses. Check out the guide below for the recommendations and measurements of our different Babiators sunglasses sizes:
Junior Babiators sunglasses fit most babies 6 months to 2 years. Babiators are made of a soft material that is comfortable and lightweight. They are designed to fit kids’ faces and don’t pinch the temples or nose.
Fit will vary by child depending on head size.
If you’re between sizes, we recommend ordering your child’s sunglasses a size up.
Classic Babiators sunglasses fit most children 3 to 5 years. Babiators are made of a soft material that is comfortable and lightweight. They are designed to fit kids’ faces and don’t pinch the temples or nose.
Fit will vary by child depending on head size.
If you’re between sizes, we recommend ordering your child’s sunglasses a size up.
Our 6+ Blue Series sunglasses fit most school age children 6 years and up. Aces are made of a soft material that is comfortable and lightweight. They are designed to fit kids’ faces and don’t pinch the temples or nose. Fit will vary by child depending on head size.
If you are not sure if the sunglasses fit well we suggest checking out "The Babiators Sizing Guide" blog post we wrote that shows our wonderful little model who was in between sizes. It has some great pics show how to get the best fit.