ABSTRACT Risk-taking during the toddler years is crucial for the development of autonomy, initiative, and independence. However, the current culture in the U.S. seeks to minimize the risks young children are exposed to. This small-scale, mixed methods study examined parental attitudes towards toddler risk-taking and children’s behavior during nature play. Each child in a young toddler classroom at a northern New England childcare program (n = 9) was observed for 90 minutes and their parents (n = 17) surveyed. Results show a wide range of risk-taking profiles for children in the same classroom. Parents were more concerned about children’s play at heights and least concerned about rough and tumble play, the most and least frequent activities children engaged in. Parents who rated outdoor play scenarios as more risky tended to have children who exhibited more risk-aversion. Suggestions for working with parents to understand the benefits of risk-taking in outdoor play are discussed.

中文翻译：

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幼儿在自然游戏中的风险任务和评估：家庭和游戏环境的作用

摘要 在幼儿时期承担风险对于自主性、主动性和独立性的发展至关重要。然而，美国当前的文化力求将幼儿所面临的风险降至最低。这项小规模的混合方法研究检查了父母对幼儿冒险行为的态度和儿童在自然游戏中的行为。在新英格兰北部儿童保育计划 (n = 9) 的幼儿教室中，对每个孩子进行了 90 分钟的观察，并对他们的父母 (n = 17) 进行了调查。结果显示了同一班级儿童的各种冒险情况。父母更关心孩子们在高处的玩耍，而最不关心粗暴和翻滚玩耍，这是孩子们参与的最频繁和最不频繁的活动。将户外游戏场景评为风险更高的父母往往会生出更多风险厌恶情绪的孩子。讨论了与父母合作以了解在户外玩耍中冒险的好处的建议。