07/23/2026
How do you support risky play in a preschool setting?
We teach kids to listen to their bodies. If they feel nervous, uncomfortable, or unsure, that is their body telling them that they need to slow down and think about what's happening. Maybe they need an adult to move in closer, or talk them through the steps, and sometimes they just can't see the process and need a little encouragement
So what do we do when a 4 year old just spider climbs a tree like this?
We watch, we wait, and we ask if they are okay. When E got this high, I stood underneath him to be there if he fell or slipped, but he didn't.
In fact, he had spent the morning climbing this tree over and over, each time going a little bit higher and higher. He knew when his hands needed to take a break so he'd give the space to another child to try. He worked himself to this height with a process that he felt comfortable with. He knew he had support from the ground if he needed it.
At the end of the day, he was so proud of himself and what he had accomplished.
And when a 2 year old asked why I wouldn't lift her into the tree, I simply explained that her body wasn't ready to do it on its own just yet, but she was welcome to practice...and she did.
