It is your responsibility to ensure that your child has a safe environment to play in and enjoy by being prepared and monitoring your child's activities.
Because children's skin is thinner, they can burn easier and more quickly than adults can. It is best to keep children out of the sun between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. You also need to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least fifteen and reapply it frequently. Protect your little one's head with a hat that shades her face, neck, and ears. Protect her eyes with sunglasses that are UV certified. You can provide additional protection by dressing her in long-sleeved shirts and pants. These clothes can be lightweight or cotton material, but be sure they have a tight weave to prevent the sun's rays from seeping through.
Obviously, if the area your child is playing in isn't fenced, you need to be sure she cannot run into the path of any traffic. Even if you have a fenced yard, you need to monitor your child's activities at all times.
While playground equipment can be great fun for your little one, it can also be dangerous. You need to make sure that the equipment your child is using is appropriate for her age. Be sure to use baby or toddler swings for children under three years old. There should not be any sharp edges on the playground equipment, and s-rings should be closed completely to prevent equipment from becoming loose or breaking.
Swing sets should be anchored to the ground to prevent them from tipping over. The equipment should also be made of plastic or rubber. The swing set should be placed at least six feet away from a building or fence, and try to position the swing set so that a child doesn't have to cross in front of a swing to reach other playground equipment.
Of course, you should always supervise your child when he plays on the equipment. He should never stand up in the swing, and there should only be one child in each swing. You should never tie ropes to swing sets or trees because a child could accidentally hang himself.
Just because your child has had swimming lessons doesn't mean you can assume he or she is safe from the possibility of drowning. It is important that your child have swimming lessons, but you should constantly supervise your child when he is around any body of water. A pool should have at least a four foot fence around its perimeter that separates the pool from the house. This fence should have self-latching gates equipped with locks.
You need to remove any toys from an empty pool to prevent children from being tempted to reach for these toys or jump into a pool to retrieve them. Adults should be certified in CPR, and there should be a phone located near the pool in case of emergencies. If you live near a lake, river, or pool, it is extremely important to place a tall fence between your residence and that body of water to protect your child from drowning.
Finally, if your child is a passenger in a moving vehicle, whether it is a bicycle, boat, or car, she should be adequately protected. If you place your child in a child carrier on the back of your bike, she should always wear a helmet that is specifically made for her size. If your child is going to be riding in a boat, she should always wear a life jacket. Of course, your child should always be restrained in an appropriate car seat to prevent injury.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your child has a safe environment to play in and enjoy. You should never let your child out of your sight, even for a moment. Being prepared and monitoring your child's activities can keep your child safe and secure.
