Safety out and about
© DK
Your child will enjoy playing out of doors - she'll be able to run around freely, get dirty, and explore a different environment. The main danger associated with playing outside is that she may run out of the playground and into the road.
You can prevent this by making sure that your child always plays in an enclosed environment and that any garden and playground gates are locked with child-resistant locks. Your child must learn that roads are dangerous places and that she must never run out into a road.
Playground safety
- Young children should sit in box swings, not open ones.
- Swings should be enclosed by a fence.
- Climbing equipment should be situated on a rubber surface, grass or sand so children don't injure themselves.
- Tell your child not to put her feet under a roundabout or jump off one when it's still moving.
- Slides constructed on an earth mound will break a fall.
- The surface of a slide should have no joins in it.
- Playground equipment that is at ground level, like tubes and tyres, is safest for toddlers and younger children.
Road safety
It's never too early to teach your child the safety code for crossing the road. Whenever you want to cross the street, always go to a pedestrian crossing if possible or find the safest place to cross - one where you can see clearly in all directions and drivers can see you. Stop by the kerb, hold your child's reins or her hand, look in both directions for traffic and listen. If traffic is coming, let it pass. Look in both directions again and when nothing is coming walk across; don't run. Continue to look and listen as you cross. Keep up a running commentary of what you're doing, looking out for and listening for.
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 30.06.2010
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