02/19/2026
And it’s because those kept from risky play growing up likely have more anxiety in general, not just risk aversion.
If you didn’t climb trees growing up, it doesn’t automatically create an anxiety disorder. But reducing adventurous play increases vulnerability to anxiety.
Risk builds competence and confidence, and confidence lowers anxiety.
The absence of risky play hasn’t only led to more anxiety — we’re also seeing mood disorders, attention disorders, and obesity.
And to quote my fav, : “low self-esteem, lack of resilience in small everyday tasks, clumsiness, underdeveloped muscles and joints leading to injury, and so much more.”
So let kids whittle, jump, climb, wrestle, and flip — so they can repeatedly tell themselves, “I can handle this,” and train their brains to carry that belief into the rest of life.
