Exemplary Practices 2008

Risk-Taking Through Play

There is no formal teaching at Kiddies Korner Preschool in Port Coquitlam, BC, says Jennifer Durkin who has nearly 40 years experience in the ECE field. "My belief is, that if I can help children develop socially and emotionally, all the academics will come in due course," she says. "Children need to be allowed to risk in many areas of their life and each time they succeed, their self-worth strengthens and they feel ready to try new things."

The type of risk in which children are engaged takes many forms. For some, putting pen to paper involves risk but with encouragement, children learn how to succeed. For others it is shooting down the slide on their stomachs, head first. Although the slide doesn't appear high to an adult, it can be intimidating for a three-year old. Once done, a feeling of accomplishment ensues.

Durkin bristles at the preponderance of rules in other centres she's visited. "I see that as not trusting children to problem-solve. We adults have to work it out and with encouragement, children can work it out as well."

She goes on to cite relevant research where children who are not comfortable taking risks often end up as hesitant readers, are slower to learn math skills and lack creativity. Kids who turn easel painting into finger painting, or 'fly' cars up in the air before landing them, use felt pens to make a tower or create their own ending for a story, are being creative. Durkin thinks there are no wrong answers just different ones. She also believes those children who are creative in their thinking may be the ones to make a real difference in the world. "One of them may find a way to stop world hunger or cure cancer," she says. "I would be so proud to say that I once taught them if they hurry and get it done so that I'm still around."