Helicopter Mom at the Playground

• As a Pediatric OR Nurse, I cannot help but turn into a "helicopter mom" when I take my 4 year old son to the playground. For those who never have heard of that term, it is a mother who hovers closely over their child. A little overkill? Probably! BUT I also cannot ignore my professional experience and the injuries I commonly see from playground accidents.

  According to the National Safety Council, more than 200,000 children visit hospital emergency rooms each year due to playground injuries. 79 percent are caused by falls to the ground while 40 percent of all playground injuries are directly related to some type of climbing equipment. 

  Broken elbows are injuries I often see in the OR and the majority occur in association with a particular piece of playground equipment. Any guesses which playground equipment I am referring to?

  
  

  A)Swings

  B)Slide

  C)Monkey Bars

  D)Play Structure

  
  

  The answer is Monkey Bars!

  
  

  Broken elbows are so commonplace, the OR isn't the only place I hear about them. Just yesterday, while getting a pedicure, a woman shared that her school-age niece broke her elbow. I asked if I could guess how it happened. She was amazed when my first guess was correct. Unfortunately, she too fell victim to the Monkey Bars.

  
  

  So given the fact that playgrounds ARE dangerous and accidents DO happen, here are a few things we can do as parents to keep our children as safe as possible.

  
  

  Supervise!
  

  
  

  My son is often so engaged in play that he lacks awareness of what is going on around him. The "Helicopter Mom" that I am, cannot help but remind him to slow down, pay attention when he is climbing up and down things, not to run in front of the swings, etc. His response back to me is, "I know Mom, Safety First!" Although he knows safety as a concept, once he is engaged in play, he reacts, not thinks.

  
  

  Teach!
  
  
  

  It is never too early to teach playground etiquette/rules. Just like the rules of the road, when people abide by them, the risk of accidents lessen significantly! A few that I have to remind my son of frequently are:

  -Don't play tag or run around the swings. That is just asking for trouble. 

  -Make sure before going down the slide that no one is still at the bottom. On the same note, once he goes down the slide, he gets off as soon as possible.

  -Of course no climbing up the slide. 

  -Climb one ladder rung or step at a time

  
  

  Reinforce the Rules! 
  

  If my son doesn't follow the playground rules, I am not afraid to reinforce them. Sometimes it takes just a simple reminder other times it requires a Time Out. I do not believe it is fair for my son to jeopardize the safety and well-being of the other children because he is not listening. 

  
  

  Embrace Learning Opportunities!

  
  

  
  

  Luckily, I have only seen minor accidents at the park. When my son witnesses a child fall or get hurt he is very curious and concerned, He often will come and ask if the child is going to be ok, It is during that conversation, we discuss how it happened and what could have been done to prevent it from happening.