Playing in parks and playgrounds is essential for children's healthy upbringing. It stimulates their body and mind, gives them much needed exercise but if proper child safety is not practiced it can result in cuts, bumps, bruises, scraped knees, broken bones, injury from broken bottles or even worse. Children need freedom to have fun and explore the world around them but as parents our first and foremost priority always should be their safety and well being.

~Check park maintenance

In parks that are not properly maintained, the long unkempt grass can hide a myriad of insect and snake species and rusty swings and play equipment can cause serious injuries to your children. Always take your children to parks that are well maintained. The grass should be properly cut and swings should be in good repair.

Before allowing children to run amok, check for protruding nails, splinters, rusty chains, broken planks or gaping holes.

~Keep a close watch

Keep a close eye on the number of children on one particular swing. This might save your child from any unexpected push or jerk from behind. In case of a younger child, always stand near the swing or ride.

Keep a look out for stray dogs if the area is not properly enclosed.

Never let your child stand in the path of a swing. The wooden plank can strike against head or back while swinging causing serious injury.

Always accompany your child to public toilets.

~Disallow expensive items in playgrounds

Sometimes older children have a penchant for showing off or displaying their newly gained belongings. Girls might wear real gold lockets, anklets, bracelets etc. and boys usually bring mobile phones, cash filled wallets, watches and game consoles to playgrounds for the sole purpose of bragging and drawing attention to themselves. As parents you must put your foot down hard on this tendency.

In public areas, children should blend in with the crowd and not stand out on the basis of their designer clothes and expensive accessories.

In doing so they are at risk of incurring jealousy of other children which can manifest itself in ugly and petty ways.

They are also in danger of being deprived of their valuables by older kids or pickpockets. Predators usually lurk in such places and mark their would-be seemingly rich victims.

~Always keep them in sight

Some children might consider it violation of their human rights but the best way to keep children safe is to keep them under constant supervision.

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