In today’s world of padded playgrounds, knee pads, and “safety first” policies, one of the most essential ingredients in a child’s development is quietly disappearing: risk.
We’ve replaced jungle gyms with plastic climbers, removed see-saws and tree branches, and bubble-wrapped our children’s experiences in the name of protection. But what if this pursuit of safety is actually hurting them?
At Acton Academy Kennebunkport, we believe real growth requires real challenge—and that includes the occasional scraped knee, failed plan, or swing that takes 20 tries to hang.
Because kids don’t just need safety—they need courage. And courage is never built in comfort.
Why Risk Matters
Child development experts and psychologists agree: risk is essential for learning.
When a child climbs a tree, balances on a log, or swings from a rope, they’re not just playing—they’re:
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Building balance and coordination
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Learning judgment (“Can I make it across this rock?”)
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Testing limits and recalibrating
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Developing emotional resilience through failure
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Practicing independence
In short, physical risk helps wire the brain for confidence, competence, and critical thinking. Without it, children may grow up physically safe—but mentally and emotionally unprepared for the real world.
The Danger of Overprotection
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt calls this trend “safetyism”—the irrational prioritization of safety over growth.
As well-meaning adults, we try to eliminate all discomfort, risk, and failure from our kids’ lives. But in doing so, we rob them of something far more valuable: the ability to navigate challenges on their own.
This overprotection shows up everywhere:
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Schools that ban running at recess
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Playgrounds with no height or complexity
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Classrooms that avoid competition or “hurt feelings”
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Homes where parents hover, ready to prevent every fall
But life doesn’t come with bumpers. The earlier children experience safe, meaningful risks, the more equipped they become to handle real adversity later on.
At Acton, Risk Is Part of the Curriculum
At Acton Academy Kennebunkport, we don’t eliminate risk—we design for it.
Our learners are encouraged to solve problems, try and fail, climb and fall (safely), and face challenges head-on. Whether they’re launching businesses at age 8 or building rope swings in the woods, they’re learning what most traditional environments avoid:
That failure isn’t fatal. It’s essential.
That’s why we intentionally build real-world challenges into our learning model—and nowhere is that more evident than in our weekly Outdoor School.
Outdoor School: Learning Beyond the Walls
Once a week, Acton learners trade the classroom for the coastline, forests, and fields of Maine. Outdoor School days are designed to stretch both mind and body through hands-on, adventure-based learning.
One week they might study ecosystems while building a shelter in the woods. The next, they could test buoyancy by crafting a raft—or explore leadership while navigating a group hike.
Nature becomes the teacher. Curiosity becomes the curriculum.
Through unstructured play and team-based challenges, learners build resilience, collaboration, and confidence. They experience firsthand that failure isn’t the end—it’s how we learn.
One of our favorite moments? A group of learners spent hours trying to get a swing rope over a branch. After dozens of failed throws, the woods erupted in cheers when the rope finally landed. That swing became more than a plaything—it was a symbol of grit, problem-solving, and the joy of earned success.
This is Acton. This is the real world.
What Traditional Schools Get Wrong
Most conventional schools are bound by fear—fear of liability, of complaints, of injury. So they design environments that are sterile, controlled, and risk-free. But in doing so, they also create learning that is growth-free.
When we take away risk, we also take away:
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The joy of discovery
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The satisfaction of overcoming fear
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The lessons that only come through trial and error
And more than anything, we take away the chance for children to learn who they really are when things get hard.
Let Kids Climb Higher
At Acton, we don’t fear risk—we harness it.
Because we believe children are far more capable than they’re often given credit for.
When you give a child freedom, real responsibility, and the space to fall (and get back up), they don’t become reckless—they become resilient.
So the next time you see a scraped knee, a muddy child, or a swing that took 20 tries to hang—ask yourself:
Is this dangerous? Or is this just what growth looks like?
Want to Learn More?
At Acton Academy Kennebunkport, we’re building the kind of learners the world needs—gritty, curious, independent, and brave.
Download our free Info Kit to see how our learner-driven model helps kids grow stronger in and out of the classroom.
