love of local in Utah
Friday: Play!—Help! Playground Saftey
I try to be a laid-back mother, I really do. I try not to suffocate my children with worry or have too many rules. I have to be honest though, trips to the playground are stressful for me.
When I was a nanny I took three boys to the park; it was their favorite thing to do. The youngest boy, who was almost two, fell off the second-lowest step on the stairs up to the slide. He hit his neck and had a seizure. I’ve never been more terrified in my life while trying to get him to breathe again and open his eyes. The ambulance came and his two older brothers were inconsolable. He ended up fully recovering and now is a very healthy, smart and sweet second grader! ~Hi Tyler!~
Needless to say I am terrified of my children exploring playground equipment and was almost relieved my oldest was scared of going too high for the first three years of her life. But my Baby Girl is NOT and today she almost gave me a heart attack! It doesn’t help that she has the same sweet smile, laugh, bright blue eyes and almost white hair like Tyler!
I also don’t want to give them my insecurities and worries. I want them to have fun but safely.
I found this article on PlayGround Safety that gave me some good tips (eight pages worth!) but I am more curious to know…
What tips do you have related to kids and playground safety?
Tags: friday, outdoor fun, saftey
Having worked with kids before becoming a parent like you, it’ hard to be relaxed because you have to be so over cautious with other people’s kids, and you get used to it.
My tip on the playground is play with them, make it look like you are just playing even though you are also protecting. That way they don’t hear you hold them back and your anxiety is lowered too. It probably won’t always work especially on a crowded playground but it’s worked for me so far…
My kids are now grown men and went throught normal exploration and falls, trips and other accidents normal to life of active children.
They are 45 n 46 and doing well.You can only watch and pray do over protect, u will drive them and you crazy.
I know for me the best thing is to set boudries as soon as we get to a park, I tell my son that he is welcome to play on anything but I tell him if you want to play on the high bar (or whatever is a little scary) to make sure I am close or to come and ask me.
This may not work for younger kids — but I’d pair up the younger ones with an older friend/sibling and give it a try.
As young girl scout troop we went over safety. One of the activities we did was giving each set of girls a playground safety checklist. (It was written and had images for the girls no reading yet.) They went around judging our playground — ie, soft landing areas, age appropriate, etc. This really seemed to make them aware of the equipment. Then we did a trivia game to test them on good behaviors at the playground. We even game them safety monitor badges. My girls seem to have kept that with them.
I freak out when the slides are huge and the steps difficult for tiny legs. I have found that there are many age appropriate parks, however, and just stick with those.
Also, I always talk to my children about the rules BEFORE we go anywhere. Then we review them there.
I don’t have many rules for playgrouds,however. My bigggest one: Stay in the designated area (I have wanderers). Also: the sand, gravel, woodchips stay on the ground!
Hi Vanessa! I’m glad you posted this. I often feel like the “overly protective” parent when I’m out at the park because I’m a bit terrified of playgrounds too. I often still climb up the playgrounds and slide down WITH my 2-year-old.
I wish more playgrounds were designed with the “4-and-under crowd” in mind. I’d like to see more playgrounds with soft, foam flooring and no “gaps” in between the steps…