Risk-takers are the kind of kids who climb up rocks from which they could readily fall or drown. Risk-taking shouldn’t be allowed. If an injury occurs, the hike could then very well be over. Sometimes, rescuing such a child means putting yourself at risk, and that’s a very dangerous situation indeed. There’s a lot of fun to be had without children deliberately putting themselves in danger.
The best way to deal with a risk-taker is to head him off before he gets to the pass. As Robert O., Wheeling, W.Va., says, “Risk-takers are mostly show-offs looking for attention. If your kid has a tendency to do dangerous things and say ‘Look at me!’ then in-stead give him some extra attention on the trail and divert his thinking away from doing things to ‘impress’ you or the other children.”
Related articles:
Sibling rivalry on the hiking trail
It’s OK for kids to get dirty on the trail!
How to keep kids from being noisy on the trail
Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.