Teach Your Child Playground Safety

We have all seen children do their stunts on the playground.

Boys climb the slide just to slide down the slide down head first.

Girls climb to the top of the play house and sit on the roof just to prove they can do something they have seen their brothers do.

These stunts are dangerous. They can even be deadly but your child may not know he or she is doing anything wrong unless someone has told him or her.

Have you educated your child in playground safety?

Children should only climb on playground equipment made for climbing and they should always use both hands, be careful of climbing down, and to watch out for those climbing up. Children should also avoid having too many people using the equipment at one time.

On horizontal ladders and bars, children should start at the same end of the equipment and move in the same direction and stay well behind the person in front.

And children should not climb when equipment is wet.

On seesaws, children should be taught to sit facing each other, not leaning back while keeping a firm hold with both hands. Children should never stand or run on the board and should keep their feet out from underneath the board as it descends.

On slides, children should be patient, avoid pushing or shoving, and to wait their turn. They should also be sure no one is in front of the slide before going down. Further, children must keep at least one arm's length between children. Children should also leave the bottom of the slide after they have taken their turn and never use a metal slide that has been sitting in the sun. To avoid possible serious head and neck injuries, It is important to teach children to slide down feet first, always sitting up, one at a time.

And on swings, children should avoid swinging empty swings, and to never twist swing chains and putting head and feet through exercise rings on the swing sets to prevent serious back and neck injuries. Children should hold onto the swing chains with both hands while sitting in the center of the swing; NOT standing or kneeling. A child should never push anyone else in the swing or allow others to push them. Only one child per swing, never share'The swing should be brought to a complete stop before the child gets off – walking way around the swing– not too close to the front or the back.

Children should be taught to ignore dares and encouragements from playmates, which is how many injuries occur.

Help the children you come in contact with play happy, and play safely.

~ SafetyIssues Staff Writer