The 9 dangerous things you should let your children do.

Want to know how to breed resilient kids? Ask Mr Adventure himself…

In a recent interview, seal-skin-wearing, urine-drinking, rotten-camel-eating explorer Bear Grylls complained that we are not allowing our kids the opportunity to live dangerously.

To which parents everywhere responded: “Well of course we’re not!”

Grylls went on to say, ““You empower kids by teaching them how to do something dangerous, but how to do it safely.”

There are many people who agree with this idea, that these days we are far too keen to wrap our kids in cotton wool. But while we go and put our heads between our knees for some deep breathing, here are nine things the experts think we should let our kids do to build their resilience.

It goes without saying that if you’re seriously considering them, make like Bear and do it SAFELY.

1. Drink only tap water.

This one doesn't apply to infants under the age of six-months, as it is still considered safer to boil their water to reduce the risk of spreading infection, but children above the age of one are recommended to be drinking tap water. In Australia, fluoride is automatically added to our drinking water, offering protection just by turning on the tap. Bottled water strips our H2O of both harmful and helpful bacteria. Although this seems like a good idea, it's ideal that children are exposed to some bacteria to build up immunity, reducing the chances of developing chronic diseases like asthma.

2. Cook on a fire.

This one isn't just for the Scouts. For children over 10, it teaches a whole range of skills, including how to be safe around flammable material, concentrating on possible hazards and ultimately, how to cook! Try a range of foods; marshmallows, potatoes, roast meats, bananas and chocolate. Camping and hiking are quite the past time in Australia so preparing your child for safety and sustenance reasons is a good idea. Of course, in our fire-prone land, check with the relevant authorities about when and where to have a fire and only under adult supervision.

3. Climb a tree.

You can expect some cuts and bruises from beginners, but climbing trees is one of the great joys of childhood. With parental supervision (from below) there is no reason for this task to become unsafe. Climbing trees also teaches children the art of problem solving. Is this branch going to break if I hold onto it? Should I be placing my feet this way? Trial and error is a perfect way for children to make mistakes and learn from them away from the classroom setting.

4. Paddle a canoe.

Give your child a grand appreciation of the outdoors while teaching them how to stay safe in the water. In Australia, swim safety is so important - with the majority of our population living on the coastline. Putting your child in a situation where they may need to save themselves can be daunting, but it is essential preparation for future (possible) accidents. As long as they can swim, of course.

5. Feel BAD.

So after 2 minutes of telling them how angry you are for pushing over the dog bowl - or worse, cat litter - they ask you for a biscuit or sugary treat and you hand it right over. Sound familiar? When you don't allow your children to experience their emotions (like um, sugar deprivation), you prevent them from understanding them and figuring out how to deal with them in a constructive way in the future. Your children need to be able to just sit with their unpleasant emotions and ask "Why do I feel so bad?" and "What can I do to get over feeling this way?" Proceed with sugary treat only after they have cleaned up dog bowl/cat litter.

6. Abseiling. 

If you think descending the face of a cliff sounds like a horror movie in the making you would be correct. But for high-school age kids, with appropriate equipment and supervision, this activity challenges children to get past fears of the unknown/height/falling. We are forced to conquer fears daily, and experts say parents shouldn't shield their child from fear, because it will only seem unbearable for them in the future. Abseiling is obviously just a suggestion, encourage them to conquer their individual fears.

7. Build a cubby house.

Build anything with your child. Teaching over-10s to use hammers, screws, nails and electrical appliances safely helps with problem-solving, practical thinking and creativity. It's also great for a bit of team bonding, and gives them a handy lifelong skill. The sense of accomplishment they will feel after completing the task will be worth your time and effort.

8. Sleep under the stars.

Not only will this foster an appreciation of natural beauty/the environment/get them out of the house, it will also make them grateful for what they have in their house; warmth, a family, comfort. It's a reminder that some people have to sleep alone under the stars EVERY night. Gratitude, people.

9. Let go.

When they want to do something, their safety is paramount, but don't stop your child from going out and enjoying the world because you're afraid of danger. Danger is everywhere. Precaution is essential yes, but over-protection is not.

What will you let your children do? 

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