No Risk, No Consequences, No Adventure?
Does adventure need risk? Out for a mountain walk on the Isle of Arran we came across some stepping stones. The kids realised they didn’t have to cross them; you can walk round them. As Hannah paused to decide what to do, the moment got me thinking about some fundamentals about risk and adventure…

How much of a gap is there between risk and adventure?
Risk and adventure
“There’s a little bridge over there, or you can take the stepping stones,” I explain as we approach the edge of the stream.
It’s an unusually fine Scottish Spring day and our group of family and friends are straggled out along the heather strewn path that leads down from Corrie Lochan to the rocky West coast of the Isle of Arran.
“Can I take the bridge, like mum?” asks Hannah.
Kirstie’s already on the bridge; it sometimes seems she’s hard wired that way. But I don’t want the kids to blindly follow in her footsteps, not without considering the alternative. She probably feels the same way about me.

First steps can need courage
Stepping stones look more fun
I pause. “You could take the bridge. But the stepping stones look more fun.”
Hannah eyes up the water and the gaps between the stones. “But what if I fall in?”
I say nothing and let her weigh it up. She doesn’t need me to tell her the consequences.

Can she do it herself? I think so… she just needs to believe it.
Does she really need me?
“Can I hold your hand?” she finally asks, swatting a midge off her nose.
Of course she could. But I think she can manage it herself, without me.
“But what if I fall in?” I ask.
She giggles. I think she’d like that. It’s unlikely but not impossible; I might fall in, I might get wet. There’s risk and consequences. And that’s the point. Without that where’s the adventure?
But it’s HER choice…
But perhaps things look different with five year old legs, a mum on a bridge and little experience of stepping stones. Truth be told, the risks are different for Hannah. Falling in is possible, maybe even likely. But no-one ever died of wet feet. Did they?
The giggling subsides as Hannah hesitates on the edge. She looks over to mum, heading off down the hill, and takes a deep breath…..

No risk, no consequences, no sense of adventure. Helping kids take calculated risks is part of a parents job.
What do you think? Can you have an adventure without risk or consequences? Do you encourage your kids to take calculated risks? Or prefer to wrap them in cotton wool?
As an adventurous family we have written a lot about adventure over the years. For more on the subject check out these posts:
Kids need adventure – parents need to teach them how
10 reasons to stop being a cotton wool parent
Even if you think you can’t you probably can
very interesting post. thanks for sharing.
Thanks Suzy. Enjoyed your picture of protoplasm too. I love those thought provoking things in public spaces.
grest story and just the right photos too. thanks!
Thanks @Kerry. Bet you could suggest a suitable Scottish soundtrack??
I love this story!! You are so right to challenge your kiddos to think out of the box and take risks!!!!
Thanks for linking up this am!
~Becca
Thanks @Becca Kids and parents often have quite different views of risk. Come to think of it so do parents, which is another challenge altogether. Thanks to you for hosting the link circle.
Way to go Hannah! I love that you were able to capture that moment in a photo.
Thanks @Lisa. A bit of sports action mode and a little luck helped capture that moment. I love the way her foot is still in the air leaving the outcome a little unclear… did she make it or did she get wet?
Aren’t you supposed to be holding her hand?
Love the story though, and a great picture too.
oh i LOVE this!! brave girl!!
@Steve What hold her hand instead of taking a photo??? I like the fact you have more kids than suitcases. We generally travel with more luggage than children!
This has been an ongoing discussion over at familyonbikes, what avoiding every and all risk means for the kids. I am not a very courageous dad myself, but agree that a little risk now and then is an absolute must. And yes, lovely set of pictures!
@Thomas Arbs It’s a discussion in many, many circles! Kirstie and I regularly ‘discuss’ it 😉 and often have different feelings and perceptions of the risks of an activity or situation.
I think there’s an important skill for parents here in becoming good at objectively assessing risks for themselves and their kids, articulating, testing and challenging their own perceptions of risk, understanding what the differences between risk, hazard and consequences are. And being able to talk about that together. It can take courage to have that debate! And I bet you are probably more courageous than you know. Thanks for commenting.
I like the narrative with your pics. Thanks!
Good for her! That was a great story!
Thanks @Sonja @Jessica @wandering educators for taking the time to comment.
Great story. I was so afraid of everything as a kid (and still many things as an adult). But my husband is adventurous and we’re encouraging our Muffin to take some of the risks I was afraid of when I was younger. I don’t want her to be a ‘fraidy cat like me.
@Stephanie Childhood patterns can run deep eh?! The tension between one more adventurous and one more conservative parent is one we know well! But the counterbalance is useful. And sometimes it makes the utmost sense to be a fraidy cat too.
I’m taking my daughter to rural Ghana in less that two weeks so this has been weighing heavily on my mind! I do think you have to give them experiences like this so they can handle the bigger ones when they come along.
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Definitely a discussion. I try and allow my children to make those kind of decisions for themselves. My daughter loves water and ends up in it at any and every opportunity, I have taken to carrying spare clothes everywhere.
I find the tricjkiest times are when I am with friends/ family and their children. I am saying to mine they can try the risk if they feel happy too, whereas their friends/cousins often are told not to. Causes a few mumbles and evils, however some are starting to see the difference this makes with my children’s confidence and are beginning to allow more risks with their children 😀
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