Dads Well-Suited to Teach Kids to Risk

​If you’re like me, you see roughhousing with the kids as a great way to help them expend some of their boundless energy with the side benefit of some parent/child bonding.  But research reveals additional benefits – roughhousing teaches risk-taking to children.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal tells us that many researchers believe the bond established by father/child play and roughhousing surfaces later in a child’s life when “the father serves as a secure base allowing the child to explore and take risks.”

The benefits go further according to the article.  They include helping the child with emotional intelligence and boundary-setting.  It goes on to state, “Many fathers walk a fine line during play between safety and risk, allowing children to get minor injuries without endangering them, says a 2011 study of 32 subjects in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.  Researchers say this can instill emotional intelligence under fire, and an ability to take prudent risks and set limits with peers.”

Interesting.  Sounds like father/child roughhousing is not to be missed.
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The article is titled “Roughhousing Lessons from Dad.”  It was written by Sue Shellenbarger and is available on the website of the Wall Street Journal.

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