Have You Encouraged Exploration Today?

Last weekend, when my 20-month-old granddaughter was visiting, she climbed up on the back of the couch, grabbed my hands in hers, asked "Ready?" and then jumped. Over and over again. I was surprised but it was obviously great fun. And she was not afraid at all.

A new theory suggests that parents' support of children's exploration and risk-taking is just as important as parents' support of children's need for security. To become self-confident and fully explore their world, toddlers need to be encouraged to take risks in new social situations and new physical challenges. Encouragement comes in the form of staying at arm's length and letting kids figure things out for themselves.

Researcher Daniel Paquette, in a study reported in Early Child Development and Care, also found gender differences in children's behavior and in their parents' support. Fathers were much more likely than mothers to encourage toddler exploration and to provide safety while permitting some risk. And toddler boys were much more likely than toddler girls to engage in risk-taking exploration. Paquette remarks, "By stimulating exploration, controlled risk-taking and competition, fathers provide something different to the child who will benefit greatly from this singular contribution."

So what do you think? What's your level of risk-tolerance? Does your partner encourage exploration more or less than you do?

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