We want our kids to take risks, but we don’t want them to take stupid, un-calculated risks. I want to help them learn to think through whether a risk is bad or good. That is what today’s activity was all about. We have a green and a red plate. You can use a piece of paper or anything else that represents good and bad to you. I gave them a bunch of risky scenarios. For each, they needed to determine if it is a good risk or a bad risk. Here are the situations I gave:
* You are with your mom at the park. There is a rock wall that looks very high. It seems scary. Your mom is next to you, and you decide to climb it.
* Your friend thinks it would be fun to try and stand on the bike seat while you ride your bike. Seems risky but fun. You decide to try.
* You are wanting to cross the street. There are a few cars going by, but you think if you run really fast, you could get over to the other side. You don’t want to have to walk all the way down to the crosswalk, so you decide to take the risk.
* You are at swim lessons, and this day your class if jumping off the high board. It looks scary and risky to you. You decide to try it anyway.
* You are asked to sing a song in front of the whole church. You decide you will sing.
* You are at the park, and your mom is talking to a friend. A man offers you some candy. Seems a little risky, but it’s in the wrapper. You decide to take the risk.
* There is a party at the YMCA. You don’t know anyone who is going. You are afraid you won’t have any friends there. You decide to go anyway.
* At recess, the ball goes over the fence. You know you could probably climb the fence and be OK. You decide to try it because all of the other kids are asking you to get the ball.
* Your mom made something new for dinner. You have never tried it before, and you’re not sure you will like it. You decide to try it anyway.
* You are out on the lake and your dad thinks you would have fun trying to water ski for the first time. You are not convinced you can do it. You decide to try.
