Gever Tulley is the founder of the Tinkering School and the author of 50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do). He explained in his TED Talk [shown above] five things parents should let their kids do and describes why a little danger and these five things are ultimately good for children:
- Walk to school
- Climb trees
- Burn things with a magnifying glass
- Make a bomb in a bag
- Super glue your fingers together
Being from the open water swimming world, we have our own open water swimming alternatives for Tulley’s land-based risky actions:
- Learn to bodysurf
- Swim along a coral reef or near a waterfall
- Swim against and with a current in a river
- Dip into or briefly swim in cold water to understand hypothermia
- Paddle, kayak, and navigate for a friend in an open body of water
Just as Tulley explains why various seemingly dangerous activities are good learning tools for children, we believe bodysurfing, coral reefs, waterfalls, currents, cold water, paddle boarding, kayaking, and navigating are similarly great teaching experiences for the next generation of responsible adults and leaders.
Bodysurfing teaches children how to interact with nature (e.g., catching a wave) and what happens when things do not go to plan (e.g., in a wipeout).
Swimming along a coral reef or near a waterfall shows children the wide spectrum of life on earth and how living creatures depend on one another; and ultimately how the health of the ocean and rivers is vitally important for the survival of the human species.
Swimming against or with a current demonstrates to children how powerless human beings are ultimately against Mother Nature and how to continue on despite the obstacles and issues that they will face during some points of their lives on terra firma.
Swimming in or dipping into cold water is a fascinating first-hand experience with potential hypothermia that can teach children that what is impossible is quite often possible when the proper mindset is attained, and with proper preparation and training. The concept of acclimatization is taught along with the importance of planning, physical preparation, and safety in many aspects of life.
Paddle boarding, kayaking, and navigating for a friend teaches children the importance of teamwork and interdependence upon their friends, schoolmates, teachers, parents and, ultimately, their spouses, co-workers and neighbors.
So provide a little danger and elements of risk in your children’s lives under the proper supervision*; they will be better off for it in the long term.
* Note that all risky acts in the open water should be done under the guidance of properly trained adults (especially, watermen and waterwomen) who can explain and demonstrate to the children what should be done and what can go wrong and who are very comfortable in the open water.
© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“
A World Open Water Swimming Federation project.