Accident frequency and unrealistic optimism: Children's assessment of risk.

•Children’s assessment of frequency, danger, and risk likelihood of accidents.•Accidents include pedestrian, bike, trampoline, electrical, drowning, lightning.•Rare accident frequency was overestimated, common accident frequency underestimated.•Unrealistic optimism rationalised by superior skills or parental control.•Accident frequency and unrealistic optimism: children’s assessment of risk.