A new study has shown for the first time, using virtual reality, that moderately risky play helps children make safer decisions faster and more efficiently in real-life situations. The experiment involved 424 children from Norway and Canada aged 7 to 11. First, the children explored a virtual playground with structures of varying difficulty, and then they crossed a virtual road with moving traffic.
It turned out that children who more often chose challenging routes during play and were willing to take reasonable risks assessed the road situation significantly faster. At the same time, the faster decision-making did not increase the number of dangerous mistakes. According to the researchers, small setbacks, such as virtual falls, help children better understand their own abilities and improve their risk-assessment skills.
The study also found cultural differences. Norwegian children were more inclined toward risky play than their Canadian peers, which the authors link to a tradition of independent play and greater freedom for children in Norway. Boys took more risks than girls, and older participants showed more confidence than younger ones.
The authors emphasize that this refers exclusively to controlled, age-appropriate risk. They believe children need time, space, and the opportunity to explore the world on their own, and that play spaces should be "safe enough," rather than eliminating all risk as much as possible. The study was one of the first to confirm that experience gained during free play helps children act more safely outside the playground.
