Often when people think of risk, especially with young people, they think of hair raising stunts, jumping out of trees, or for younger adults substance and alcohol abuse. But risk is much simpler than that, and for that reason the way we navigate the small risks will reinforce how we take the big ones.

Risk intelligence is like any other intelligence. The more we use it the stronger it gets. If we avoid navigating small challenges, the bigger ones will be that much more difficult.  Just the same, if we reflect on these moments, we’ll build better, stronger thinking.

Realistically, all of our choices are risks. When we’re confronted with a decision, there’s pros and cons and we’re in the pursuit of trying to pick a path which will benefit us in some way. The better we are at taking risks, the more likely we are to pick the right choices.

For example, driving home after a long day at work you might be inclined to stop for some fast food! This isn’t always a “bad” choice, but if it’s a pattern, it could be contributing to poor health. The ability to in the moment navigate that choice and balance it accurately is critical.

Just the same, you might balance and mitigate that risk by preparing meals earlier in the week, meaning you’re not hungry and tired at the end of your work day! That moment was when you were at the shops, picking what you were going to buy, and then when you got home and had the option of Netflix, or Meal Prep!

All of these choices are in front of us every day. Being risk intelligent means reflecting, planning and acting in a way which leads you to success which is true to who you are and what you want for yourself.

When it comes to young people and risk, we can sometimes forget that what is a risk for them is unlikely to be a risk for us. This means we can miss a lot of opportunities to challenge them in healthy ways.

For a young person, meeting new people is a risk! In many cases they’re navigating situations that we see as typical, for the first time. That means it’ll be confronting and complex for them.

Just the same, we might feel like encouraging risk taking in a young person will lead them to be wild and reckless. But for them, jumping off the couch is often a huge risk in their eyes, while to us it’s pretty tame! That doesn’t mean they don’t get all of the benefits emotionally and physically.

When it comes to young people, navigating risk as an adult in a way that’s visible helps them to understand and better see it themselves. When we talk out our process of thinking and the choices we make, we’re setting a positive example.

Just the same, if we catastrophise risk or choices around young people, one of two things will happen. They will come to believe that risk is dangerous, preventing them from making even the smallest of choices without conceding to the easiest, least challenging path. Or secondly, they’ll come to distrust your perspective which can spell disaster for later.

The young person who has their parent regularly catastrophise risk, like “don’t climb that tree, you’ll hurt yourself” who is never hurt and does it anyway (kids will take risks if you tell them to, they’ll just wait until you’re not around) will believe you’re wrong. This means when you give them sound advice, like “don’t get in the car with a friend who’s been drinking” they’ll believe your judgement is flawed.

Risky Kids clubs take advantage of these everyday risks. In our classes we use exciting movements and social interactions between Coaches and kids to facilitate moments of challenge, risk and adversity.

Young people are then guided through these moments, having their thinking challenged to sharpen and develop it so that they can build resilience and an identity on the best parts of themselves.

Not only is this a powerful tool, it’s becoming more and more necessary. The everyday risks are disappearing, as educators and families become more afraid of young people being uncomfortable or discontent, and everything becomes easier. We need to remember how important healthy, everyday risks are and find more opportunities to take them!