The Evolutionary Importance of Risky Play: Challenging Limits for Childhood Development

The Role of Risk in Childhood Play: An Evolutionary Perspective

As children across the United States return to school, playground equipment like jungle gyms and monkey bars once again take center stage. While these fixtures have been playground staples since the 1920s, they have also become symbols of parental concern due to the potential for injuries. Yet, new research from Dartmouth anthropologists suggests that r…