Playgrounds are one of the central platforms of your children’s young lives. It is a place where they have fun and laughs. There are also occasions when things can go wrong, and a very pleasant scenario can rapidly develop into something a lot less pleasant.
No parent enjoys seeing their child crying, but it is unfortunately often part of the playground routine. To avoid these situations, here are 3 tricks, which could help.
Keep a careful eye on your children
Many mothers enjoy going to the playground to meet and chat with their friends, but that should never be the main purpose of the visit. This should always be keeping at least one eye on the children in their care, and try to anticipate and therefore prevent situations that can lead to tears or accidents from happening.
For example, if you see the child playing on a swing, then they should be there are at arm’s-length to prevent an accident. As a parent you should also watch other children, especially, older and bigger, who can involuntarily injure your child wanting to play with them
Watch out for Bullies
Parents should also have a sixth sense when it comes to protecting their children from unruly or aggressive behavior from other children. Playgrounds are like society and there will always be children trying to take advantage of other.
To ensure your child avoids “bullies”, keep an eye on what is happening on the playground and look at how children behave. Children who have a natural inclination to be “bullies” will often pick out smaller children. If you suspect your child may be being bullied in the playground, you should subtly intervene and ask him to play somewhere else.
Keep in mind that your child needs to learn to stand for himself/herself, so it is also important to let him/her deal with these situations before standing up.
Set Rules
Oddly enough, tears are caused by incidents between children and parents. Usually when the child wants something, or to stay longer and the parent refuses.
In order to avoid tears, it is important to set clear rules and explain them to your child. To teach these rules, it is often a good practice to follow a similar routine every time you go to the playground, so that your child is familiar with it.
Mike has 2 little boys, who love spending time at their local playground. Mike has been blogging for over 4 years specializing in parenting and child development. When he is not writing, Mike is an active toys reviewer for several online and offline publications.
I found that crying often ensued when it was time to go home and what helped was to give warnings and make leaving into something positive like, its time to go have our popcicle or go give Buffy his biscuit, he misses us. Having said that, I also think its important to help kids learn to cope with upsets instead of always sheilding this. I know too many teens and college aged kids that were too sheltered, and they are so unprepared for adulthood
I’ve had pretty good luck at the playground. Seems most parents are diligent.. of course there are those other times. Once, a little girl thought it would be funny to go after a boy I had brought w/me. To fight back in anyway, would have made him a bully but she wouldn’t stop. I looked at the father and he said “don’t worry, he can’t hurt her” (yes..he could have and was about not to have a choice). So, I ran to put a stop to it (all was split second stuff). Boy, that lazy dad made me mad.
Usually when the child wants something, or to stay longer and the parent refuses.
Oh yes.. I had to give reminders about time as it got closer to leave. So hard to give a up a good time when you’re a little one.