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Last Updated on August 23, 2024
Spending time outside is the perfect way to reduce your child’s reliance on technology. Plus, outdoor play helps your child stay physically strong and prepares them for sports. As your child grows, it’s important to teach them how to stay safe as they play outside with their friends. Using these strategies helps to ensure that your child’s time outdoors is always safe.
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Choose Age and Skill-Appropriate Play Spaces
A toddler shouldn’t be crawling over monkey bars. Nor, should a teenager be trying to test their strength on preschool-size equipment. At home, make sure your outdoor play toys meet your child’s age and skill requirements by checking the product’s information. If you have a trampoline designed specifically for toddlers, make sure the older kids stay off of it.
Most public parks have signage indicating the age and height guidelines to help you make informed decisions.
Establish Clear Rules
Most children learn at some point not to walk in front of a swing set. Telling them this rule is better than them learning it the hard way by getting knocked down. You can also set other essential rules at home for your backyard play space such as only one person on the trampoline at a time to minimize injuries.
Practice Proper Sun Protection
Slathering your children in sunscreen may be a part of your normal routine by now. You may also enjoy knowing that there are other ways to keep your child safe from the sun’s UV rays. Adding a sun shade to your children’s play equipment helps to reduce their exposure. You can also dress them in clothing with sun protection to prevent painful sunburns.
Encourage Hydration
Active children can rapidly become dehydrated as they sweat out water and electrolytes. Fortunately, it’s easy to keep them hydrated. Encourage your children to take water bottles outside, even when they’re at home. Seeing their water bottle will remind them to take a drink. Bringing their favorite bottle along with you on outdoor adventures away from home also makes it more likely that they’ll stick to water rather than begging for a sugary beverage.
Inspect Outdoor Play Equipment Regularly
Outdoor play gear is exposed to the weather elements, which can increase the rate at which they age. You can start by choosing quality play equipment made from durable materials that are less likely to develop damage. For instance, choosing a trampoline with a net system that undergoes UV testing helps you to feel secure that it won’t break down during the first summer. Or outdoor playsets that are made from long-lasting materials. Once the equipment is installed, simply check it from day to day to ensure that it feels sturdy and doesn’t have any missing bolts or nets.
Teach Your Children to Respect Nature
Exploring outside is a wonderful way for your children to learn about science. But, you also want them to avoid putting themselves in harm’s way out of curiosity. Teach your children to observe insects and animals from a distance to prevent painful stings and bites. You’ll also want to talk to your children about the reasons to avoid tasting plant life that could be toxic. Discussing how to handle inclement weather is also important. Children should know to come inside if they hear thunder or see lightning since this means that a potentially dangerous storm is in their area.
Discuss What to Do In An Emergency
Ideally, you’ll be nearby if something should happen while younger children play. However, older children may play for short times in your yard away from constant supervision. Make sure your children know to send someone to find an adult if they get hurt. With older children and teens, you can teach basic first aid such as having someone with a suspected head injury stay in place while someone else seeks help. You’ll also want to teach your children to go inside or find a trusted adult if they are approached by strangers while playing outside. Having a plan in place to handle common scenarios gives your children confidence as they play outside.
Final Thoughts
As your child grows, remember to adjust your strategies accordingly. For instance, you might need to swap out play equipment that is too small for your child’s growing body. Or, you might want to expand their boundaries to give them more room to roam. Making sure that your child’s safety plan is tailored to fit their needs helps them to get even more enjoyment from the great outdoors.
