Kids and Physical Fitness

Help Them Play Safe

Regular physical activity is an important part of growing up. Children who grow up with a lifestyle that includes physical activity, such as sports and outdoor play, are more likely to carry the healthy habit into adulthood. If you're encouraging your children to be active, be sure that they also learn how to stay safe while staying fit.

PART 1: ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG ATHLETE

It's peak season for children's organized baseball, basketball, soccer and other sports and, unfortunately, for sports-related injuries to young bodies and limbs. If you have a child who's participating, there's an interesting study about sports-related injuries to kids from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) that you might want to consider. Here are some of the highlights:

Kids Are Vulnerable But Think They're Invincible

Kids are more susceptible than adults to suffer injuries while participating in sports. Part of the reason is physical: Children's bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments are still growing. That makes them more vulnerable to fracturing, rupturing and tearing.

But part of children's vulnerability is attitudinal. "Children often believe they're invincible when participating in familiar sports or recreational activities," says James H. Beaty, MD, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and second vice-president of the AAOS. The combination of tender bones and reckless attitudes is a recipe for injury, notes Beaty.

Tips for Preventing Injuries

The AAOS study also lists common sense precautions that adults can take to prevent kids from suffering sports-related injuries:

  • Make sure that all kids who participate know and follow the rules of the sport;
  • Make kids wear appropriate protective gear, such as shin guards for soccer and helmets for baseball and bike riding;
  • Make sure kids know how to use the equipment properly and check it before use;
  • Make sure kids warm up properly before engaging in the activity;
  • Don't let kids keep playing when they're clearly in pain or extremely tired; and
  • On hot days, make sure there are plenty of rest breaks and that kids stay hydrated.

PART 2: 5 WAYS TO HELP KIDS PLAY SAFE

Active kids are found not just on the football field, but also in the playground—at home and at the park. Here are five things you can do to help keep your kids injury-free while they're playing outdoors:

1. Teach Them Playground Safety

According to Safe Kids USA, between 1990 and 2000 at least 147 children died from injuries related to playground equipment. And most of these injuries occurred when children were not closely supervised.

Teach your child playground safety rules, such as:

  • go down the slide sitting down and facing forward, not headfirst
  • hold onto railings
  • wait their turn
  • move away from the bottom of the slide
  • don't stand on slides or swings
  • avoid being near moving swings
  • play only in age-appropriate areas.

Parents should also be aware of, and careful of, some of the preservatives and water-proofing solutions available for use on outdoor wooden children's play apparatus, lawn furniture and decks. Many of these products are arsenic-based and have potent fungicidal and pesticide properties.

The large outdoor gym set-ups, which are very popular these days, should be inspected by parents, guardians and other responsible parties, for the kind of preservatives present and those to be used to maintain them.

It's a good idea to scrutinize the kinds of primers and paints used to maintain and beautify metal and wooden children's toys and outdoor activity equipment and furniture.

2. Watch Out for Electrical Hazards

Warn your kids to keep clear of overhead power lines when they fly kites or model airplanes, or when climbing trees.

3. Mind the Yard

Don't let children under 12 operate push mowers or ride-on lawnmowers. Let them help with yard work by raking the grass or removing rocks and other objects before you mow.

We are all aware of the terrible toll of sick and injured children each year due to poisoning in the household, but a great many are in the yard. Weed-killers used on our lawns and around lawn furniture and patios are particularly nasty for children and pets, but are often ignored or not appreciated as a potential hazard.

4. Insist on Bicycle Helmets

Your child will be less resistant to wearing a bicycle helmet if he sees that you always wear a helmet when riding and he gets to help select the helmet.

To select a proper bicycle helmet, remember that:

  • Bicycle helmets manufactured after 1999 must comply with the CPSC (US Consumer Product Safety Commission) bicycle helmet mandatory safety standard;
  • Chin straps must be strong enough to keep the helmet on the head and in the proper position during a fall or collision;
  • Bicycle helmets should be comfortable and snug;
  • Helmets should not tilt back on top of the head or pulled low over the forehead;
  • Helmets should not move in any direction when adjusted properly; and

5. Set Rules for Trampoline Use

If you have a trampoline in your yard, enforce these three rules:

  1. No one on the trampoline without adult supervision;
  2. One person at a time on the trampoline; and
  3. No flips or somersaults.

Conclusion

Parents are becoming increasingly aware of the need to get the kids outdoors and active. But to send them out without proper precautions is counter-productive. Take a few minutes to ensure that your young athletes and playground warriors stay injury-free. Teach them how to play safe.