Matthew McConaughey says overprotecting children can take away the 'beauty of ignorance'

Matthew McConaughey says the "beauty of ignorance" helped him get through some tough moments in his youth.

John Nacion/Getty Images Matthew McConaughey says protecting kids from every setback can leave them more afraid of risk.

He says he believes minor falls can teach children the confidence to get back up.

The actor credits some of that mindset to his mom, whom he calls the "queen of denial." Matthew McConaughey , 56, says parents should allow children to take small, manageable risks.

On Tuesday's episode of the " Build or Break " podcast, McConaughey talked about the value of letting kids take such low-stakes risks — a lesson shaped by his own experience growing up.

"Look, kids aren't afraid of heights until they fall," McConaughey told podcast host Daniel Lubetzky.

"Every parent knows this." McConaughey compared it to watching a child climb up a tree.

"You let your kid go out on a limb, right? Maybe it's six feet off the ground, but there's beautiful St.

Augustine grass below, and you're like, well, if they fall, they're not going to have to go to the hospital," he said.

Putting the "proverbial safety mat" under them at that stage could make children more wary of risks they might otherwise handle, and take away the confidence that comes from getting back up after a minor fall, he said.

"You've already taken away a beauty of ignorance, which is something that I know has gotten me through a lot of pickles in my life, because I was ignorant at the time to know how dire the actual situation was," McConaughey said.

"I pulled it off because I didn't give the crisis the credit it even deserved at the time.

And that's part of youth," he said.

However, once a child is high enough that a fall could be fatal, McConaughey said that is when a parent should quietly guide them back down.