50 Risks to Take With Your Kids is a guide for parents and carers to nurture resilience and independence in kids as they learn to take their own risks. For anyone who wants to combat helicopter parenting and a bubble-wrapped generation, Daisy Turnbull offers an easy-to-use framework with simple, practical challenges for children aged up to 10 years old.
In 50 Risks to Take With Your Kids, you'll find risks that build physical skills, social confidence and character development before kids enter those 'risky' teenage years. You'll also find some all-important parenting risks that will encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and think a little differently about raising children. It may sound counterintuitive to say that the more opportunities you give children to test boundaries, the better they will ‘adult’, but it’s true. The more they are allowed to play in the mud, create games and find their own solutions to problems, the more they will thrive later in life.
Peppered with Daisy’s own experiences in teaching, wellbeing and parenting, this warm and funny book is not about developmental KPIs, and it's certainly not about judgement. It's about teaching kids to recognise and assess risks themselves, and readying them to take on life and all that it brings. And it's about having fun and connecting as a family along the way.
Industry Reviews
'An honest, funny and beautifully written account of parenting with all of its accursed uncertainties. If we were serious about absolute risk-aversion, we'd never have children at all, of course, but Turnbull is a wise guide to the risks that are truly worth it. For a book about risk-taking, it's hugely reassuring.' – Annabel Crabb, journalist and author
'This book is full of smart, evidence-based steps that parents (and grandparents!) can take to assist the emotional and cognitive development of their children. In the 21st century, there are few more important parental, family or social tasks. I will be actively recommending it to many of those parents who are struggling to find practical actions that they can take every day.' – Professor Ian Hickie AM, clinical psychiatry researcher
'We hear that ‘bubble-wrapping’ kids backfires, but how do we start popping the bubbles? When do we fully unwrap the kid? What if we prefer our kids safe and sound, and no risk seems worth it? That's when we pick up this book: a practical, sympathetic guide to giving kids back the chance to make some ‘bad’ moves and grow from them.' – Lenore Skenazy, founder of the free-range kids movement
'Resilience is a gift you give your child. It's the ability to bounce back when things get tough, it's coping skills, and it's the foundation for good mental health. With a sense of humour and a pragmatic approach, Daisy Turnbull has made teaching resilience easy and fun. 50 Risks captures everyday opportunities to develop and nurture resilience in your child. It is an essential parenting resource.' – Dr Fiona Martin MP, psychologist and federal member for Reid
'Daisy has written an important and timely book, with a down-to-earth, practical and humorous approach, combined with nods to science, psychology and Bluey.' – Dr Judith Locke, clinical psychologist