Let Them Climb: Why Physical Risk on the Playground Is Good for Kids’ Brains

Remember the days when playgrounds had sky-high jungle gyms, steep metal slides, and see-saws that required mutual trust and bravery? Somehow, we all survived those mini adventures just fine—and more importantly, we learned from them. In recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift in playground structures, from adventures and risk to fun and safe. Safety is, of course, crucial and extremely important for a child, but have we gone too far in bubble-wrapping childhood? When we eliminate all the physical risks from play, we might also be robbing kids of some essential cognitive and emotional development.

Let’s talk about the importance of a bit of risk. Little things like letting your child climb to the highest branch on a tree or balance on a wiggly log can actually be a great opportunity for them. When a child is faced with a physical challenge—like getting down from the tree they climbed—they’re doing more than just flexing their legs. They’re stimulating their prefrontal cortex, located in their frontal lobe. The brain is being used for critical thinking as the child has to think, “Can I reach this branch?” or “Will this branch hold my weight?” These questions are essential for a child’s cognitive growth because they require them to assess the situation, weigh possible outcomes, and make decisions—key elements of executive functioning. These skills go as far as to aid future abilities like impulse control, planning, and flexibility.

This concept of risk-taking is not only a theory—research has been done in support of it. The research shows that kids who engage in “risky play” are often better at self-assessing danger. That may sound ironic, but practice is what develops your child’s gauge of what works and what doesn’t. When facing manageable risks, children learn how to be safer, not more reckless. They understand their limits and develop the confidence to try, fail, and try again.

As we know, it can be difficult to just tell your kids something—especially when you’re trying to teach them to be a certain way. In the same way parents want their child to be respectful, caring, and polite, many also value a child’s independence, self-sufficiency, and problem-solving skills. As many of us parents know, teaching your kids manners is more than just telling them to say “please” and “thank you.” It’s about giving them the skills, and encouraging them, so they can take it forward without you. Although it can be scary as a parent to see your child jumping off the play structure, it’s a risk that is worth the trade-off for your child’s development. When your child makes it to the end of the balance beam or the top of the rock-climbing wall, the sense of accomplishment they feel is real—it lights up their brain in the best way. This kind of success is internalized.

Having these small wins shows them that they can do hard things, which becomes an anchor when they face other challenges in life.

We often separate physical play from cognitive development, but the two are deeply connected. Movement stimulates neural pathways, improves attention, and supports emotional regulation. Gross motor activities like swinging, climbing, and jumping are beneficial for young children whose brains are still wiring up to those critical circuits. When children test their bodies through risky activities, they are also testing their brains. They’re developing spatial awareness, motor planning, and even early math skills. Small thoughts like, “How many steps do I have to take to make it to the end?” or “How fast will I have to move to balance on this log?” all contribute to these skills. Learning doesn’t always require a worksheet—sometimes it can be taught in a fun, natural way, one that includes safe risks.

An important thing to recognize is the definition of safe risk. We're not saying to send your kid off to scale a cliff or go swimming against a riptide near a waterfall—we’re saying to challenge them within their realm of capabilities. This might mean giving your 4-year-old the opportunity to climb a ladder you would usually spot them on, or letting your 8-year-old build an outdoor fort out of sticks (yes, even if it gives them a splinter). As caregivers, our role isn’t to eliminate every hazard—it’s to supervise thoughtfully, helping them reach success when needed.

In an age where “safety first” turns into “safety only,” it’s worth thinking about the probability of failure relative to the risk. Even if they end up scraping their knee when falling off that tree, it is often something that builds resilience. When kids face physical challenges on the playground, they’re not just burning energy—they’re building their brains, testing their limits, and developing essential skills for their future. So next time your child wants to climb higher than you’re comfortable with, take a breath. Watch. You might just be witnessing a moment of growth in more ways than one.