Battle and Walden – risky play project

Melinda:  So sometimes it’s really hard to introduce risk into your programs in a child care centre or even in your home. We did a project where we went in to a school age centre and we had the children go to a creek but  there was a lot of set up to go to that. We had to make sure that the parents were on board and build that relationship and trust with the parents in order for them to want the children to go to the creek and it was during the melting season so it was a little bit more riskier to go to this creek.  

Marc: On the prairies when the snow melts the rivers get really high and they become very, very dangerous places for children. But we met with parents before we did any of this and we talked about why we felt risk and taking chance was important and we got them on board. And it was wonderful because once we started talking about risk with parents, then the parents tell their risks and how yeah. . . and it was almost like I forgot about this stuff and it was just reminding people that and also making people feel trust that we know what we’re doing, we’re going to do it in a safe way. We’re going to do risk but we’re going to do safe risk because it isn’t worth it if people get hurt.  

Melinda: So the first thing we did is the day of Marc and I went there and we assessed just to make sure that it was safe enough for the children to go there. And we thought it was good enough for them to go. When we went to the centre, we talked to the kids and just asked them like what are some of the dangers around the water. Marc told them a story.  

Marc: I told a cautionary tale. Cautionary tales were always those tales to help kids manage the risk and so here we were taking them to a dangerous spot so I thought, I’ll tell a cautionary tale about things that live in the water that would take children, right? And of course, we all had a good laugh but there was a good message about that’s why we have these tales. They’re to protect you when the parents aren’t there when you go and play.  

Marc: There is a natural need for children want to play in water. So we were taking them to a very dangerous water source but we made sure that they were able to splash in every puddle on the walk there and get as deep as they could and get what we have here in Manitoba is called a “booter” when your water goes in to your boot. So go get some booters, play in the water that is safe to play in, that isn’t moving fast. We found a little creek just a tiny little thing so they could splash about. Once they got that out of their system, then we went down to the river, right? Now they didn’t have to play in the river. They’ve already done that with the other bodies of water.  

Melinda: On our way down towards the creek, I got them to assess the feeling of the grass  underneath their boots just to make sure that it wasn’t slippery and they knew what their shoes and the grass felt like so that they weren’t slipping on the grass into the creek. And once we got there, we had made these boats for them to float in there and we had two little boys who made catchers to catch the boats on the way over.  As the children were playing around there, they got more comfortable and you could see that they weren’t as hesitant to play around there.  And actually the caregivers, it was interesting because they were all really nervous before we went there with all the children and that’s all about trust again.  And they, once they got there and they saw the children playing and doing it safely, they all of a sudden felt that the children were able to do it.  They could see the capability in the children. 

Marc:  And we documented it so we took pictures of what was happening to be able to use that as a springboard for conversation when we got back to the child care centre for the other caregivers who feel nervous about that stuff and the parents too. 

Melinda:  So when you’re letting children experience these things and the caregivers get to see the children do this, you actually see a complete difference.  They want children to take more risks and be able to do more things.  It just gives that confidence to the caregiver as well to the child that everybody’s being trusted.   

Marc:  If I can add in there, we talked about how risk changes the child’s picture of himself.  He sees himself differently when they take part in a chance like this.  While the staff also see the children differently when they see the kids involved in this risk – “Oh, you know I’ve had troubles with this child all day but when we put him in this situation he rises to it and he does what he’s supposed to be doing”.  That I think we need a lot more in our field where we’re seeing our kids a little bit differently, right?  So when we give them a little bit of chance they rise to it and they do it well.  So it’s not only good for them it’s also good for the staff.  And you’re right, it opens everybody up and at least it opens up to a conversation, you know, a conversation about what are the risks that we’re ok with and what are the ones that we’re not.  And that’s another thing we need to have a lot more in our field about – good conflict and good discourse about this stuff.