You might have noticed snow hills in the schoolyards and open areas during the winter seasons. These huge snow mounds are piled up in the same places season after season and kids love to play on them. These are perfect places to slide but some kids may get hurt while playing.

This is a natural thing and it’s hard to find anything that can deal with these type of risks. Some school has been going out of their way to protect their kids from any activity that could cause injury.

What makes schools apprehensive?  

Some schools have come as far as banning bouncy castles and other inflatable amusement equipment. Children are often hurt while playing at school playground equipment.  

School administrations contend that the safety of their children is their utmost concern and the real reason behind banning such games and equipment is to keep the kids safe. But these events are rare and the fear of injury cannot be taken as an excuse to stop kids from playing.

Schools go as far as banning physical contact to avoid injuries. Some schools have enforced a penalty of banning balls unless they are made of spongy materials. In 2013, a middle school in New York banned cartwheels at recess.

But is that all helpful and reasonable to kill the amount of risk from kids’ lives?

The risk is a part of learning 

The risk is a part of learning and both of them are together. Experts contend that risk under a controlled environment must be there to make children learn and grow. 

According to a report in the New York Times, one British school has introduced sandbox, loose bricks, and crates to make children play and do away with school playground equipment.

Children often have to cope with real scissors and tape dispensers that often come with sharp metal teeth and they may injure themselves in such moves. But this is normal even according to the government standards.

The balance between risk and benefits 

It is pertinent here that we understand the balance between benefit and risks. There has to has some risk in playing, falling over and bashing into things. This is far different from being reckless. 

If children are barred from playing outside and taking risks, they will be left unlearned from small but significant developments in life. So parents and schools must realize that banning cartwheels in the yard and kicking soccer balls might help them keep physically fine, but they will not get that opportunity to learn again.

Adults should not be depriving children of opportunities to learn while they play.