Does anyone remember being really risk-averse as a child?

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I was: I had to be persuaded to do anything remotely risky, or rebellious. I refused to light matches because I was afraid of burning myself, and I'd heard all the "never play with matches" stuff at school. My parents used to make me light matches when I was ten or eleven, so that I'd be ready for Bunsen burners.

I was very timid about a lot of physical activities such as cycling or swimming, because I was afraid of getting hurt, or drowning. And it was a long time before I felt able to go out to places on my own.

I think I was afraid of getting things wrong and being told off for it, as well as possibly hurting myself. I did overcome a lot of these things eventually, but probably later than many people my age did.

Does anybody else remember being like this as a child?

One of my DC was but she has subsequently been diagnosed with OCD as an adult.

I've never climbed a tree in my life, or been in an attic.

Yes me too. My mother infrequently says things like "Oh it's okay when you're a child you don't have The Fear", except I was a child who did. In fairness I have terrible proprioception due to having EDS and I knew it. Cycling and rollerskating were terrifying and both ended in injury.

Me, I always felt I was an old soul in a young body as a child.