10 Tips for Helping Kids Play Safe
It’s Safe Kids Week from April 20th to 25th, which means having fun just got safer. The National SAFE KIDS Campaign has found that May is the beginning of the high season for childhood injuries that result in death. As the weather warms up and kids get more active there’s a greater potential for injury, which is why spring is the perfect time to help kids play safe.
It’s important to let kids take an active role in making sure things are safe around their home, school and the playground. That way it seems less like they are being preached to and more like they are making decisions for themselves. Share these safety strategies with your kids and students during Safe Kids Week.
Helping Kids Play Safe at School
Make the Rules Clear: If kids don’t know what the safety rules are they can’t follow them. Post safety rules at exits/entries, around the playground and in other areas where kids congregate.
Stand Up to Bullying: Let kids know if they or someone they know is being bullied it should be reported to someone instead of silently allowing it to happen.
Teach Accident Statistics: Kids learn a lot of things at school and the importance of accident prevention should be one of them. A National SAFE KIDS Campaign survey found that 70% of kids thought their parents worried too much about accidents and most of the kids didn’t realize accidents were the leading cause of deaths in children 14 and younger.
Wear the Right Clothes for the Playground: Having fun on playground equipment is much safer when kids remove necklaces, scarves and anything else that can be caught on something. This includes avoiding clothes with drawstrings.
Don’t Let Competition Overshadow Safety: Kids should be taught that it’s okay to take a break if they aren’t feeling well during a sports game or practice. The two main concerns are dehydration and concussions. Students should be taught how to recognize the signs of both so that they can avoid potentially fatal injuries.
Helping Kids Play Safe at Home
Never allow kids to play with smoke detectors or fire extinguishers. They may seem like fun, but kids have to be taught that they are critical safety devices.
Learn to Swim: The leading cause of death for kids 14 and under is drowning. But sticking to the shallow end doesn’t guarantee safety. If your kids don’t know how to swim, sign them up for lessons during Safe Kids Week.
Provide Close Supervision: Help kids under the age of nine understand what they can and can’t do without supervision. Experts say that kids don’t develop adequate judgment until after the age of nine. Putting focus on the fact that there are some things they can do on their own will help avoid situations where they think adults are being too controlling.
Keep Away From Windows: Safe Kids Worldwide notes that 3,300 kids are injured every year by falling out of a window. In addition to using window guards, make the areas around all windows no-play zones.
Let Kids Pick Out Their Bike Safety Gear: Biking causes more injuries than any other sport. While it is great exercise, kids have to learn to wear protective gear each time they get on their bike. Allowing them to pick out their helmet, safety vest, elbow pads, and other safety gear will encourage them to wear it during every ride.
At Pro-Vision Academy charter school we take every precaution possible to make our school grounds safe for students. But at the end of the day, many safety issues are about the decisions that kids make. By using the tips above we can help all kids play safer, whether they are at home, school or on the playground!
Original source: http://www.provision-inc.org/extra-curricular/10-tips-for-helping-kids-play-safe-2/