Opportunity for the child to break the cane (6)
I believe the answer is:
chance
'opportunity' is the definition.
('chance' can be a synonym of 'opportunity')
'the child to break the cane' is the wordplay.
'the child' becomes 'ch'.
'to' says to put letters next to each other.
'break' indicates anagramming the letters.
'cane' anagrammed gives 'ance'.
'ch'+'ance'='CHANCE'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for chance that I've seen before include "part of Monopoly" , "The unpredictable element of existence" , "Accidental; opportunity" , "Coincidence" , "Liability" .)