Sports and being physically active are imperative for the health of your children. Exercise helps in building stronger bones. It also helps in preventing obesity, as the movement allows children to burn calories.
Moreover, when they play in the group, they learn socializing. Playing team sports teaches them the spirit of team building and thus inculcates discipline in them.
However, playground and sports safety are also imperative, without which the dangers of accidents that then require visit to South City Hospital for first aid and treatment runs great.
The risk of accidents should not deter you from allowing your child to reap benefits of sports and playground fun. Simply, take steps to minimize the chances of accidents.
Making playing safe for children
Ensure adult supervision
It is vital that adults be always present at the games and in the playground. They can not only hep with kids donning on the safety equipment but also watch out for anything that is not safe.
Furthermore, adults can also solve conflicts and fights that might turn bloody. Likewise, they can also ensure that there is fairness in the playground, so that no kid lashes out due to not getting a chance.
Adults can also give quick first aid if any conflict arises in the park. A timely intervention with injuries is pertinent.
Presences of adults also protect children against other safety risks and activities of criminals.
Educate children
Parent should teach their children to be safe on the playground. They should know not to push other children, especially on swings and slides, where the fall is likely to cause more damage.
Moreover, children should know they cannot take certain swings that are advanced for their age. Teach them not to climb on guardrails etc. Do not allow them to play on slippery surfaces, as they might fall then. Any broken playground equipment should not be used.
Proper equipment and dress
It is also vital that the child be allowed to play the sport with proper equipment only. Otherwise, they are more likely to sustain injuries, some of which may even turn serious.
Make sure that your child is wearing padding on their knees and elbows. Many sports like cricket and baseball require helmets, so do not allow your child to play without one. Similarly, make then wear appropriate shoes for the game. Also, ensure that your child’s dress or accessories are park friendly.
Safe surface
Make sure that children are not playing on hard concrete surfaces, unless its sports like basketball, but in that case as well, make sure that the surface is even and not with holes and other risks. Even in that case, try to get special wooden tracks or surface otherwise, since concrete is very dangerous for children.
For rest of the sports and play, try to get the children to play on the ground, where the softer surface is likely to cause less of any injury.
Warm up before sports
Warming up before playing any sport is important. It gets the body moving and improves circulation. Otherwise, the risk of injuries runs greater. Therefore, make sure that your child has warm-up and stretching routine sorted with their coach.
Watch out for injuries
Athletes are more likely to run into injuries. They can be mild like getting hit or taking a mild fall. If it is severe, then a visit to the ER is important.
If before they return to playing without their injury fulling healing, it may lead to reinjuries, as their body is not yet fully recuperated. So, make sure that the injury is healed and then some before allowing your child to resume.
Athletes can also have overuse injuries, which are caused due to repeated stress to one point. These can cause problems with bone growth, so if you suspect your child to have overuse injuries, then consult their Child specialist in Karachi.