One of my favorite parenting blogs recently pointed out that "it's pretty amazing to hear a government official -- even across the pond" say that "by scraping knees, grazing elbows and getting bruises, children learn 'valuable lifelong lessons' that will help them to avoid more serious injuries in later life."  

I couldn't agree more - it is amazing!  In an age where helicopter parenting and over-scheduling are rampant, people need to hear that "children can learn valuable lifelong lessons, particularly about risks and how to deal with them, from playing in the natural environment, and that parents have to accept that their children may get injured. Bumps, bruises and grazes are not serious injuries and are part of growing up.” 

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and Research for the Children recognize that though it may be difficult for parents "When children are able to interact with the world around them, they learn to push their boundaries and develop their assessment skills – rarely, for example, will children climb above where they feel comfortable."

I try my best to balance my own over-protective instincts with what I like to call "benign neglect:" that is, I try not to interfere when I see my kids doing something that may result in a small bump or bruise, but also may boost their self-confidence (crossing the "big kid" monkey bars alone is good!), or may teach a valuable lesson (walking in front of the swings is bad).  Next time someone points out that my 2-year-old is about to jump off the top of the climing structure, I'll just refer them to this article, and kiss the boo-boos as need be, secure in the knowledge that she learned something from her choice.