Jump On It

March 2, 2023

Some years ago, I was walking into my local grocery store with my kids when I was stopped by a local reporter. Would we answer a few questions on camera about bounce houses? Sure, I replied, never one to shun a TV spotlight while wearing my KidsOutAndAbout jacket. The reporter described a recent incident in which a high wind had lifted up a bounce house at a festival and carried some kids in it about 15 feet, bumping and bruising them along the way. "So... " she said, thrusting the microphone in my direction. "Are you still going to let your kids play in bounce houses, given the risk they pose?"

"Well.... sure," I replied. "The girls like them a lot, and it seems to me that the risk of them getting really hurt in one is so tiny as to be worth it. Besides, the risk isn't death, it's a bruise. So, no, I don't think this story is going to change what we do."

Boring common sense wasn't what they were looking for, so my clip didn't make it to the broadcast. But it got me thinking hard about how to balance the risk of kids engaging in vigorous physical play with what is lost when they are encouraged to avoid risk at all cost. Each time kids overcome a mild challenge or hardship, they learn that they're tough and resilient; the experience builds confidence, and the next obstacle doesn't seem nearly as scary. What we lose by avoiding all risks (economists call this opportunity cost) can't, by definition, be shown on YouTube. We can't measure precisely the lost potential for confidence or achievement. But it's true nevertheless, and I think it's taking a toll on our future. I worry about communicating a culture of fear of the outside world that is getting in the way of kids growing into independent and happy adults.

What if we were to take a Safety Second approach? We want a future filled with innovation and entrepreneurship. We want our kids to step into their future with confidence that they have what it takes to make their world what they envision. So instead of worrying about what's the worst that could happen, how about this: Ask yourself What's the BEST that could happen? Imagine it vividly. Then sprinkle on a little mathematical reasoning about the actual risks. If they're minimal, or if they're not devastating, and if the potential reward is great, then there's a clear outcome. JUMP ON IT.

—Deb