"Unlocking Mental Health: 'Risky Play' as Teen Fix"

Discover how integrating 'risky play' could be a transformative solution for addressing the mental health challenges facing teenagers, offering a unique approach to fostering well-being and resilience.

Boston Brand Media brings you the latest news - The Venny, affectionately dubbed as the adventure park, brims with the enchantment of childhood that seems to dwindle amidst modernity: from fire pits to trampolines, treehouses, bikes, animals, and gardens, all under the watchful eye of adults who endorse embracing risks.

Reflecting on her past, Ms. Haji Ali reminisced, "I had all this pent-up energy." She found solace and expression at The Venny, where she was encouraged to take the lead, shape her own destiny, and assert her independence.

Currently balancing her studies at university, Ms. Haji Ali also dedicates part of her time to working at The Venny. Her journey mirrors that of numerous local children who, over the past fifty years, have entered its gates, only to discover their untapped potential and capacity for growth.

Lloyd Greenland is another.

Mr. Greenland emphasized that The Venny shielded him from the allure of gangs preying on idle youths in his public housing neighborhood.

He recounted, "They embraced me, assuring me of my safety. They provided nourishment and extended an open invitation to spend time here." This gesture, he added, marked a turning point in his life.

Moreover, The Venny bestowed upon him invaluable treasures – cherished memories of a joyful childhood.

Reflecting on his experience, he remarked, "At eight years old, though unbeknownst to me then, I sought refuge and amusement. The Venny became that safe haven where I could escape, unwind, and simply enjoy myself."

Boston Brand Media also found that the evident influence of this urban sanctuary on the local community and the emotional growth of successive generations of children is undeniable.

Moreover, recent global research corroborates its significant impact.

'Risky play' as important as food and sleep

The activities at The Venny are commonly referred to as "risky play."

Emerging studies suggest that the decline of such activities in contemporary society might be fueling the rise in mental health disorders among teenagers.

Teen Mental Health

Recent research underscores the vital role of play in child development, likening its significance to nutrition and sleep. In line with this, the Canadian Paediatric Society issued a guide earlier this year for parents on facilitating risky play.

Dr. Anthea Rhodes, a prominent paediatrician at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, concurs, affirming that play is indispensable for a child's brain development and overall well-being. She emphasizes its importance alongside factors like nutrition and rest in maintaining a child's health.

As research highlights the significance of play, concurrent studies reveal that contemporary lifestyles are diminishing children's chances to engage in it.

However, Dr. Rhodes, a mother of four, suggests that integrating play into daily routines is more manageable than many parents assume.

She clarifies that it's not about encouraging hazardous play, where a child is at risk of harm. Rather, it's about embracing risky situations where the outcome is uncertain. In such scenarios, children might encounter challenges, experience setbacks, or sustain minor injuries, but they ultimately gain valuable lessons from the experience.

While research in this area is still emerging, studies show risky play may help avoid the record rates of anxiety plaguing the current generation of teenagers.

"There's certainly a link in some studies that suggests if children do have exposure to risky play experiences in earlier childhood, then they're less likely to exhibit anxiety down the track when they're adolescents and teenagers," Dr Rhodes said.

The blueprint

Returning to The Venny, honorary principal David Kutcher surveys the garden with a reflective gaze.

Mr. Kutcher holds the legacy of The Venny, preserving its history and its ties to parks worldwide. He can trace the origins of each mound of earth or treehouse with precision, recalling the moments they were erected.

Above all, he embodies its ethos, rooted in the principle of the "three frees."

Mr. Kutcher explains the philosophy behind The Venny, encapsulated in the "three frees."

"Children are free to enter... there's no labels, there's no barriers to entry. Children are free to choose what they want to do when they come here," he elucidates. "Finally, the most powerful one is they're free to come and go."

This last principle starkly contrasts with helicopter parenting, emblematic of an era before smartphones and Generation Z.

As early as 1920, Danish architect Carl Theodore Sorenson, renowned in 20th-century landscape architecture, expressed concerns about children's play spaces. "Sorenson discovered that children would play everywhere except for the playgrounds that he built," Mr. Kutcher remarks.

Instead, children crafted imaginary worlds from discarded items and odds and ends, where they could play, tinker, and construct cubbies, dens, and engage with animals, fires, and water.

Sorenson implemented parks according to children's visions, and his concepts were introduced to the UK by Lady Marjory Allen, who coined the famous motto: "better a broken bone than a broken spirit."

These ideas eventually made their way to Australia.

"We don't, of course, wish harm upon anyone, but we want them to exhibit their spirit, to climb that tree, to run freely," Mr. Kutcher emphasizes.

Building resilience 

After years of observation and research on play, Mr. Kutcher has unearthed the genuine essence of risky play—a revelation that could provide solace to cautious parents grappling with whether to endorse it.

"The physical activities children partake in may seem risky, but the actual likelihood of physical harm is minimal," explains Mr. Kutcher. "The genuine risk lies in the emotional uncertainty they encounter."

He elaborates, "Taking on challenges involves emotional risks—facing the unknown, the potential for embarrassment or bruised egos. These are the real risks children confront, exposing themselves emotionally."

For Fathuma Haji Ali and her fellow Venny alumni, the impact of their experiences echoes into adulthood, reigniting the same passion they felt as youngsters.

Reflecting on her journey, Ms. Haji Ali acknowledges, "Without The Venny, I might have missed out on numerous opportunities. I likely would have remained reserved." She credits the sanctuary with fostering resilience within her.

Today, she pays it forward, guiding a new generation of young girls to unearth their hidden talents and passions.

"I see reflections of myself in these girls and kids," she shares. "Their smiles remind me of my own journey."

Lloyd Greenbank advocates for an increased emphasis on teen mental health, hoping to see more play spaces for children emerge.

"I would love to witness the proliferation of these playgrounds, communal backyards, fostering communities, because the necessity is evident," he emphasizes. "It's enjoyable and offers a commendable model."

With mental health disorders among young people skyrocketing by nearly 50 percent in the past 15 years, the ABC is engaging in conversations with youth, parents, and researchers to dissect the underlying factors and explore potential solutions.

For questions or comments write to writers@bostonbrandmedia.com

Source: NEWS‍