Gables Montessori Blog

Kids need to have fun away from home and parks can be a good option for it, but if you don’t take into account some precautionary measures a moment of fun can turn into an unpleasant event. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, emergency rooms saw an estimated 30,000 injuries linked to amusement parks in 2016. There are also some incidents reported in zoos, playgrounds, water parks and other spaces, so the best thing is to have a broad spectrum of rules to teach children so they can enjoy themselves quietly outside. Most accidents are preventable following some simple safety guidelines.

1. Teach your kids how to play safely. When visiting a park or any place (as a museum) read the rules with them. They will learn to prevent by themselves.
2. Remember that there are not better safety inspectors than parents. If you consider that there are not safety standards or some rides are not intended for your children (obey posted age, height and weight restrictions), simply don’t let them get into them.
3. At the amusement parks, observe things like: safety instructions posted, behavior of the operators, the possibility of stop the ride if the child becomes frightened and others important details.
4. Try to avoid trampolines, some specialists say that falling off, crashing into other children, or jumping incorrectly can result in strains, sprains, fractures and other injuries, and serious head and neck injuries.
5. Remember that children want to be trusted with their decisions and taking risks allow them to display courage and physical skills, so try they learn risk management strategies for themselves with your close monitoring.
6. If you are going to a national park or forest, plan your trip carefully. Involve the whole family in the preparations for the ride. Teach your kids to watch their steps, to be alert about noises and animals and avoid insect bites, stings and scratches.
7. Anytime and anyplace children need to learn how to protect themselves from sun rays using a hat, a shirt and sunscreen even on overcast days.
8. Always keep your eyes on your kids, have a plan for what to do if you get separated or lost and teach them not to talk to or accept something from strangers.
9. If the family is visiting a water park, be aware of your children’s swimming ability and be cautious about attractions such as wave pools and long slides.
10. Control the food and drink. Children must be hydrated all the time but preferably with water, avoiding drinks that contain caffeine and candy that overexcite children.
11. Recognize the signs of injury: headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, or numbness and tingling. If the child is not acting as usually, you should stop any activity in the park until he recovers himself. Don’t underestimate atypical symptoms.
12. Have a plan to get your family out of the park in case of an accident, outbreak of violence, sudden weather or something else that could be dangerous. Locate the maps of the place before the fun starts and check the available exits “just in case”.