Teenagers often do crazy things. Once a child becomes a teenager, they take more risks. Some of these are dangerous and lead to injury, or worse. A study of chimpanzees may explain risky behaviour in children. The study is from researchers in the USA. They studied over 100 chimpanzees in a park in Uganda. The chimps were between 2 and 65 years old. The researchers looked at how the animals moved through trees. The youngest chimps did more dangerous things, like letting go of branches and letting themselves fall. Older chimps took fewer risks.

The lead researcher suggested why children and young chimpanzees take risks. They are at an age when people control them less. Parents often stop young children from doing risky things. However, young teens have more freedom and want to try risky things. The researcher said the risk-taking was the same for male and female chimps and humans. A website said some researchers want children to have "access to thrill-seeking play, including the old-fashioned monkey bars, as a way to help them develop motor skills and skeletal strength".