Raising kids is not easy, and many parents are overprotective with their children in an attempt to shield them from harm. About 62% of them admit to being overprotective many times. However, the world can be brutal, so teaching your young ones how to take risks can help them. The question here is, when should a parent draw the line in balancing safety and risks? It can be a confusing phase in parenthood. Hopefully, the tips below will be helpful.
- Introduce risk in guided phases
Any responsible parent will actively put themselves in harm’s way to protect their young ones. It is an instinct many adults seem to have. However, the crux is that overprotection can be unhealthy. For example, failing to teach or guide your kids concerning how to sense danger can be detrimental to their risk assessment. Experts say it can be healthy to introduce risk in graduated phases. You can do this by creating deliberate situations that involve risk-taking. While you may be worried about exposure on such a level, your child will benefit from the life lessons you offer. First of all, you must identify what risks there are, and it is always advisable to start from the home setting. That way, your child is relaxed and willing to be part of the exercise.
You can start by inviting them to the kitchen when you prepare meals. This exercise is ideal if they are between seven and twelve years old. A risky activity might be to teach them how to turn the gas stove on only in your presence. Let them observe you doing it a few times. While at it, you can explain to them the dangers of fire hazards at home. This technique may be debatable, but the overall objective is to introduce these kids to guided risks. By increasing their competence and autonomy, you help them build a sense of awareness. More importantly, they learn that fire is not a plaything.
- Teach them new sports
Are you so scared of your kids getting hurt that you prevent them from learning a new sport? Physical activity is good for kids as it builds their young bodies. It also contributes to their overall well-being. Understandably, the terrain may differ when you have kids with special needs. For example, an autistic child may not sense danger when around water. For this reason, you may be apprehensive about teaching them to swim. Fortunately, you can find experienced swimming schools that provide swim lessons for autistic kids. Getting them to swim allows them to learn how to behave around water. It is an excellent way to balance safety and risk.
- Avoid constantly intervening in their squabbles
If you have kids at home, you will witness countless sibling squabbles. It might be about toys, bathroom delays, who sat on a chair first, etc. Admittedly, the subject of these disputes may be as frivolous as they come. However, in many cases, these situations are enactments of their ability to resolve personal conflicts. Therefore, if you have a habit of constantly resolving these issues, you may not be helping. It is one of the cons of overprotective parenting.
As a parent balancing safety and risks, you may want to teach them the concept of giving and taking. When your kids are constantly fighting, you can teach them to develop a co-sharing attitude. Teaching them to negotiate and compromise can significantly reduce the frequency of quarrels. Even better, you automatically reduce the risk of an altercation progressing further. As a tip, let this technique transcend the home. It can be replicated with their friends. The last thing a parent wants is to see their kids adopt a sense of false entitlement.
- Maintain a healthy level of free-range parenting
Free-range parenting thrives on the concept of allowing kids to function independently. It also involves deliberately limiting direct supervision. While some parents do not agree with this style of raising kids, it has huge benefits for a child’s growth. Naturally, many parents have a visceral fear of their kids getting hurt. Therefore, to prevent falls leading to injuries, they may prevent their kids from going to the playground.
First and foremost, running around is a crucial activity for children. A few falls and knee scrapes will not harm them. Free-range parenting allows kids of a certain age to experience the consequences of actions. Getting it right in the beginning may be tricky. But, in the long run, you will be grateful that you infused some level of free-range parenting in your role.
It is unhealthy to judge parenting styles; however, some methods are proven to work better than others. And you can enhance your role as a parent by being proactive in balancing safety and risk.
Leave a Reply