Children love running and playing at the park. With the fresh air and opportunity for exercise, outdoor park play is an important part of any kid’s day. While youngsters are all about the fun factor, there are other issues to consider, too. Teach your children about park safety to keep them protected from harm and injury while they play outdoors in public areas.
Instructions
Explain safe and proper use of playground equipment at the park. For example, children should go down slides one at a time and always feet first. Discourage climbing on equipment in dangerous ways, such as scaling the outside of slides or across the top of monkey bars. Teach your kids to watch for other youngsters at all times to avoid accidents and collisions during play.
Warn your children about potential equipment dangers. Playground equipment can become uncomfortably hot to the touch during warm summer weather. Wet equipment can also be dangerously slippery. If you determine that some areas of a playground are unsafe, instruct your children to avoid these areas.
Instruct your children never to leave the playground or park area without your permission. Tell your children to play only where you can see and supervise their activities.
Help children learn how to get along with other kids playing at the park to ensure a peaceful environment. Teach your child not to push or shove other kids on or near the playground equipment. Instruct your youngsters not to throw sand or other objects at people. Encourage respectful exchanges between kids, without yelling or name calling.
Talk about strangers with your children so they understand the basics of stranger safety. Explain the concept of a “stranger” to your youngsters, telling them that a stranger is anyone your family doesn’t know, according to the National Crime Prevention Council. Explain that strangers don’t always look scary or dangerous, so it’s impossible to tell if someone is a nice person or a not-so-nice person. Instruct your children to avoid talking with strangers, not to accept anything from a stranger and never to go anywhere with a stranger.
Tell your kids what to do if they become lost or separated from you. If the park has an information stand, staffed with park workers, show your little ones where this area is so they can find it to get help. In the absence of an information area, instruct your youngsters to find another mommy or a grandma at the park, advises KidsHealth.org. An adult with her own children is likely help your kids find you again.
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