Are We Raising Our Children to Be Too Safe for Their Own Good?

As we all make the most of a well-earned bank holiday — hopefully full of fresh air, fun, and family time — I want to ask a simple question:

 

Could you add a little more risk to your child’s play today?

 

I recently listened to a brilliant podcast by Playful Nature with Eugene Minogue, Executive Director of Play England, and it left me thinking deeply about the way we raise and protect our children in 2025.

One particular insight jumped out at me:

 

In the 1970s, 80% of 7–8-year-olds in the UK were allowed to walk to school alone.
By the 1990s, that number had dropped to 9%.

Today? Who knows — but I doubt it's going up.

 

Are We Over-Protecting Childhood?

We live in a world where children’s lives are more supervised than ever. And it’s understandable — safety matters. But we’ve swung so far towards protection that we may be missing something vital.

Let me ask you a few questions:

• When you think back to your childhood, did you roam freely?

• Did you play unsupervised, explore, climb, take chances — and even do things you probably shouldn't have?

• More importantly — did those experiences help you grow?

Now ask yourself:

• Is your child doing those things today?

• Or better yet — would you let them?

What the Research Says

 

Studies published in Preventive Medicine Reports show a dramatic drop in children's independent mobility over the past 40 years. What once was a 6-mile range of unsupervised freedom has shrunk to the edge of a parent’s sightline.

This matters, because research shows that:

 

Kids who experience independent, risky play:

• Have better physical coordination

• Show greater emotional resilience

• Develop problem-solving and judgement skills

In countries like Finland and Germany, where kids still enjoy greater freedom, we see better outcomes in both physical and mental wellbeing.

 

What the Experts Say

 

Eugen Minogue spoke passionately about the need to bring back risky play — not reckless, but real, meaningful challenge. It’s about children testing their limits, learning from mistakes, and discovering their own strength.

 

I saw it myself recently. My son is just 19 months old, and he's already climbing out of his cot and trying to jump onto the bed. I watched as he gauged the edge, used one leg and one hand for support, and rolled his body as he landed — all by himself.

I was nearby, but I let him do it. That leap, however small, was a building block for bravery.

 

10 Ways to Add Just Enough Risk to Play

Here are some ideas you can try today — outdoors, in your garden, or on your next forest walk:

1. Find-Your-Way-Back Walks – Let your child lead the way home from a familiar path. Start nearby, then increase distance as their confidence grows.

2. Let Them Climb Higher – Trees, rocks, walls, climbing frames — it's how they learn judgement and balance.

3. Loose Parts Play – Give them tyres, plates, and planks. Let them build dens, ramps, and bridges.

4. Use Real Tools (with you close by) – Let them hammer, screw, or saw with guidance. Trust and skills grow fast. Risky but also teachable.

5. Neighbourhood Missions – Send them to the local shop or on a small delivery with a clear goal and route. I still remember going to get milk for the first time on my bike. 

6. Timed Freedom – Let them explore a safe area alone or with friends for a set time. Return when you give them a call or when the street lights go on, come home.

7. Off-Path Exploring – Let them crawl through bushes, wade a shallow stream, or navigate a muddy track. 

8. Fire and Cooking Skills – This bank holiday and weather (fingers crossed) is perfect for Roast marshmallows, light a fire pit, or help cook something simple.

9. Trail Rides – Take the stabilisers off. Let them fall, scrape, and get back up.

10. Let Them Fail (Gently) – Don’t jump in too fast. Let them solve their own problems in play before stepping in.

Final Thought

We’re not saying throw caution to the wind. We’re asking:

Can we create more space for bravery, for mistakes, and for real-world learning?

Because:

 

Freedom builds confidence
Risk builds resilience
Play builds people

 

So This Bank Holiday...

• Let them climb higher.

• Let them lead the way.

• Let them fall — and get back up smiling.

• Let’s raise kids who know how to land, how to try again, and how to explore their world with courage.

 

Want More of This for Your Kids?

 

If this blog resonated with you, and you'd love your child to experience more adventure, challenge, movement and growth, why not check out our CORE Kids Summer Camps?

 

Packed with physical play, teamwork, outdoor fun, and just the right amount of risk, our camps are designed to help children move, grow and thrive — the way childhood should be.

 

Spaces are filling fast — https://core-kids.classforkids.io/camps or visit www.core.kids for more info.

Let’s give our kids a summer they’ll never forget — and a childhood they’ll grow from.