It’s time to get back outside and enjoy Mother Nature to the fullest. To make sure everything stays fun and exciting, parents need to maintain a safe playground.
With the sun finally making its way into spring and class field trips in full swing, it’s that time of year when we parents are signing our kiddos up for outdoor activities such as camping and swimming. With that can come unwanted trips to the emergency room.
“Children’s maturity and their interests and needs differ from adults,” reads UNICEF’s World Report on Child Injury Prevention. Therefore, simply reproducing injury prevention strategies that are relevant to adults does not adequately protect children.”
Interestingly, a UK Journal of Public Health Medicine report suggests that South Asian children have lower rates of reported accidents. Whether that is due to overbearing parents with strict rules, it’s unsure. Being safe doesn’t have to mean losing out on fun as no one wants to be the helicopter parent. By following some easy safety guidelines, we can ensure things stay fun with the world continuing to be explored.
Playground safety
“Choose a playground that has a deep, soft surface, like pea gravel, sand, wood chips or rubber tiles,” recommends prevention program Child Safety Link. Appropriate clothing ( no long necklaces or scarves) is essential, but constant supervision is the best. Sit and relax on a nearby bench, but make sure to keep an eye on what the little one is up to. We all know what they can manage to do in only a few seconds of unsupervised times.
Dog bites
There are so many benefits to children having relationships with animals. However, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of dog bite–related injuries is highest for those ages 5 to 9 years. We need to teach our children to never approach and pet a strange dog without both their guardian’s and pet owner’s permission.
Falls
Kids fall, it happens. But there are some falls that can be more harmful than others, and can be prevented. Keeping our children’s’ heights in mind, we can see what playground equipment is too high, or what stairwells are dangerous. Make sure to also keep an eye out for slippery or uneven surfaces.
Swimming
Whether it is in a home’s backyard or in a recreating centre, kids need to be supervised in the pool. “Drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries among kids under the age of 14,” reads KidsHealth.org
Proper swimming gear such as a life jacket and other floatation devices, should be worn at all times. Rules need to be strictly obeyed and enforced: no running, no going in the pool without adult supervision, no pushing, jumping or playing rough. Water temperature should always be checked before anyone gets in.
Trampolines
Growing up we were told not to jump on the bed because we could fall and break our necks; so how did kid trampolines become an acceptable pastime? Great for that desperate parent in need to tire out their rambunctious little one, but The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages using trampolines” “Most trampoline injuries occur with multiple simultaneous users on the mat. Cervical spine injuries often occur with falls off the trampoline or with attempts at somersaults or flips.”
We hope these tips come in handy when you’re looking to keep your child safe outdoors.
Featured Image Source: humanresources.tennessee.edu
Hillary Di Menna
Author
Hillary Di Menna is a freelance journalist who manages to publish her scribblings while raising a six-year-old skateboarding ballerina and sharing her home with two snuggly black cats. Her parenting blog, Misfit Matriarch, follow her adventures in parenting. You can find all her work at
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