As much heartburn and worry as it may cause parents, risk taking is a normal part of child development. The good news is that as a parent or someone in a parenting role, you can greatly influence the choices your child makes and the types of risks they decide to take. ParentingMontana.org and this podcast remind parents of the many ways you can increase the likelihood that your child will engage in healthy risk taking and avoid unhealthy risk taking. Healthy risk taking can build confidence and help teach natural consequences.

Children are more likely than adults to take risks because different parts of their brain are maturing at different times. Unfortunately, without guidance, children and teens can take risks that result in serious and long-term consequences like substance use, speeding, unprotected sex, and texting while driving.  Providing children and teens with healthy options for risk taking offers the thrill that they are seeking with minimal negative consequences. Healthy risk taking can reduce the likelihood of unhealthy risk taking.

Montana Department of Health and Human Services partnered with the Center for Health and Safety Culture at Montana State University to bring you this podcast on how to promote and provide opportunities for healthy risk taking for your child. Children learn by interacting with you. Engage your child in a conversation and hear their point of view. Ongoing conversations between you and your child that include discussions about healthy and unhealthy risk taking are one more way you can strengthen your relationship and improve your child’s decision making skills