Playgrounds are a place of recreation and play for children. This means they have to be a safe place where children can enjoy themselves while getting the exercise they need to grow up healthy. However, as parents or guardians, we always think and worry about the safety of our children at the playground.

After all, nobody wants to get a phone call about the injuries their child sustained in a playground accident. There are many playground and outdoor safety tips that you need to be aware of before they set foot in the park.

This article will highlight the best ways for you to ensure the safety of your kids while they slip down the slides and climb on the monkey bars — whether it’s on private or public playgrounds.

Inspecting Your Playground

We know it’s easy to get distracted by the slides and jungle gyms, but a severe injury from unsafe equipment can seriously damage any playground party. To ensure playground or outdoor safety, we advise you to inspect the area before use. A quick sweep is recommended, as it allows you to inspect and report on any needs or dangers in your playground.

The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) suggests to children that if they see something dangerous on the playground such as broken glass or equipment other kids are getting hurt on, they should tell an adult right away. By checking to ensure that your local public park has proper safety features, we can all avoid unnecessary accidents and injuries.

You can learn more about our playground safety tips from the experts!

Safe Equipment Guidelines

There are many things to think about when it comes to playground safety for kids. Remember that each piece of playground equipment is different in its safety concerns, so each has its own safety guidelines to keep in mind. All equipment must be age appropriate as well.

Swings

Here are the top safety tips for making your child’s experience on the swings safe and fun.

• Ensure that the swing is made of soft material (e.g., rubber or plastic) to minimize the risk of injury during play. Consider exploring options like gorilla vs rainbow playsets, discussed in detail for insights into choosing the most suitable one for your child.
• Position your kids correctly on the swing and let them hold tightly. When done, wait for the swing to stop completely before getting off.
• Let only one kid use the same swing at a time.
• Keep your child away from moving swings.

Slides

Follow these guidelines to keep your child safely sliding.

• Supervise your child when they climb the ladder to the top of the slide. Make sure that they do not try to climb the sliding board.
• Teach your child the correct methods for sliding. They should be sitting with their feet pointed down the slide, not lying down or aiming their head down the slide first.
• Ensure that only one child uses the slide at a time.
• Ensure that no one is at the bottom of the slide before the next kid slides.
• Make sure that there is a safe landing surface. Usually, it’s safety-tested rubber.

Climbing Equipment Safety

Climbing is excellent for honing motor skills. When you let your kids try it, be sure to teach and supervise them throughout the course. Additionally, see that your child is holding the bar with both hands and avoiding swinging their feet while climbing.

As a general rule:

• Dress your children suitably when playing at the playground.
• Let your kids use age-appropriate playground equipment.
• Check surfaces around playground equipment for safety.

Ensure Safe Surfacing Beneath and Surrounding Playground Equipment

Playground safety surfacing is a necessity in any private or public park. Surfaces around playground equipment should have soft surface materials made of safety-tested rubber. Aside from a rubber-like mat, a playground can install soft mulch or sand 12 inches deep as an alternative.

A good example of a rubber-like playground surfacing is the poured-in-place rubber playground surfacing installed beneath and around some playgrounds, guaranteeing safe surfaces while kids play. This playground surface material has excellent slip, impact, and wear resistance. The softer surface allows children to develop more confidence and use their imagination without fear of injury.

Playground Safety Report Card

A safe playground is one of the most vital steps in protecting your kids as they grow and play. However, it’s natural that parents and those responsible for the care of children will be preoccupied as they take a break from the office to watch their children play. It’s difficult to remember everything that needs to be checked before children begin to play.

Luckily, the National Program for Playground Safety has created a safety checklist called the Playground Safety Report Card. With this on hand, you can easily prevent accidents and ensure that your children’s playgrounds are safe.

Parents can help ensure the safety of playgrounds by downloading the Playground Safety Report Card.

Conclusion

Playgrounds are fun for kids to exercise, socialize, and be creative. They can even help children develop physical coordination, social skills, and communication skills. To ensure a safe play experience, playgrounds need to be built with sturdy structures and appropriate surfaces. The main principle of playground and outdoor safety is obvious: make sure kids can have fun without any harm coming to them. With the tips above, we hope to provide fun and safe play for all children.

How important is a playground in a school?  Find out what the top 7 factors are to consider are when choosing a school for your kids

Most schools have now reopened and many children are reaping the social and educational benefits of in-person learning.  However, if your child thrived through online learning or is immunocompromised, it might be a good idea to keep them enrolled in a remote-learning school.

Additionally, school closures for things like snow days are now a thing of the past — teachers and students alike are well set up to offer online learning in lieu of physical classrooms.

If you’re a parent to a school-aged child, you simply must know how to help your child focus during online learning. Here are a few of the best practices to consider.

A Dedicated Space

Children may have a hard time separating their educational career from their personal life when learning at home. This is understandable, as we would all struggle to focus if our favorite toys or TV programs were just a few feet out of view. You can help children avoid distractions by creating a dedicated space that facilitates learning and engagement.

The space you choose for an at-home classroom will largely be dependent on the layout of your home. In general, though, your child will do best in a room where you can observe them, yet they feel as though they have privacy and are able to contribute to class discussions without worrying about being too loud.

The space you choose should also be completely free of clutter. Clutter is a major distraction for kids during classes they don’t enjoy, and can even pose a health hazard to younger children. You can declutter your home by intentionally organizing everything you own, and giving everything its own place. You should also try giving your child a home-desk, where they can store all their learning materials.

Fidgeting

Fidgeting is entirely normal behavior for children and adults alike. Some research even suggests that fidgeting and fidget toys can help children relax and focus during classes. However, as a parent, you probably have a good idea of when your child is fidgeting due to boredom or to distract themselves.

You can embrace productive fidgeting by providing your child with the kind of fidget toy or stimulus that suits their kind of fidgeting. For example, if they are body fidgeters, you can give them an exercise ball to sit on for part of the day, Alternatively, if you find that your child has a busy mouth, and likes to click or blow bubbles when they should be learning, you can give them caffeine-free tea to keep them occupied and well hydrated throughout the day.

Focus Throughout the Day

The hardest part about school is that children are expected to retain a high level of focus throughout the day. Unlike us adults, who are able to front-load more difficult work in the morning when we have more focus, children have to complete complex tasks in classes like math or literature regardless of the time of day or how they feel.

You can help your child retain their focus throughout the day by giving them brain breaks between classes or during their lunchtime. Ideally, these brain breaks will not involve screens and will get them up and moving. For example, a walk around the block, or even allowing them to help cook lunch will take their mind off learning, and help them return to the classroom with greater focus.

You also need to be aware of the food your child is eating, and how much water they are drinking. Typically, a school day diet should consist of whole foods with antioxidant-rich berries, protein sources, leafy greens, and plenty of water to keep them hydrated.

Testing for ADHD

Sometimes seeking help is the best thing you can do for your child. It doesn’t take much to have your child tested for ADHD, and the stigma around mental health conditions is finally being challenged and reversed in most areas of society.

According to the CDC, the symptoms of ADHD include inattention (difficulty organizing tasks, failure to pay close attention during classroom activities, forgetfulness during daily activities, etc.) and hyperactivity or impulsivity (fidgets or squirms in seat, talks excessively, interrupts conversations frequently).

The diagnosis of ADHD is typically made by your primary healthcare provider, who can then offer a range of treatment options that usually involve either behavioral and environmental changes or medication.

As a parent, it’s important to recognize that testing your child for ADHD does not mean you’ve “failed” them. You’re doing the right thing by reaching out to professional medical advice, and are showing your child that it’s ok to seek help when they need it.

Conclusion

Online learning can be great for children who struggle in traditional classrooms or aren’t able to return to a physical school environment.

However, maintaining a high level of focus throughout the day can be difficult — particularly if your home environment isn’t conducive to learning. You can help your child focus during remote classes by removing distractions from their at-home classroom, and by decluttering their space regularly. You should also reconsider the food you give them, and opt for focus-friendly whole foods that help them stay on track and engaged in their learning experience.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

Teachers:  Discover  online class productivity tips to help keep kids engaged.

There’s no denying that the divorce experience can be difficult for everyone involved. Even in the best-case scenario outcome that is a joint custody agreement, there can be hurdles to overcome. Nevertheless, as parents it is vital to make sure your children settle into a routine after your separation as soon as possible.

Consistency without continued confusion is vital while making certain every child feels loved and supported by both of you. This means taking steps to ensure your co-parenting approach is a caring and stable collaboration.

This certainly isn’t always going to be an easy task. So, let’s take a look at a handful of tips you can use to positively influence your co-parenting after a divorce.

Address Conflict

Divorce is an emotionally-charged situation. There can be resentments and disagreements on both sides after the formal process is complete. However, it’s important to make sure this doesn’t spill over into your co-parenting. As such, you both need to commit to actively addressing elements of conflict as they arise, rather than allowing them to fester and exacerbate the situation.

Learn how to talk about conflict. Avoid using language associated with blame when there is some aspect of behavior or parenting that you disagree with. Wherever possible, talk about conflicts in-person, as text messaging and phone calls can be easily misconstrued. Choose a neutral venue and calmly discuss the source of any issues.

Most importantly, collaborate on a route forward. Compromise is not always easy to achieve, but it needs to be a feature of your co-parenting approach. You won’t always be able to agree on all issues, but you need to be open to finding common ground as co-parents to ensure the well being and protection of your children between both of your homes.

Keep Communicating

Let’s face it, there will be times that you simply don’t want to talk to your ex after your divorce. While this is understandable, it also doesn’t make for a positive co-parenting experience. When there is any kind of communication breakdown, this leaves room for misunderstandings, mistakes, and resentment to breed. It is also likely to result in your children receiving inconsistent messages from their parents.

As such, you both need to commit to keeping in regular communication with each other, even if this is limited to parenting elements. You can also find your relationship in general will be more pleasant if you maintain regular contact. Some people even find this easier to achieve without the emotional baggage of an unhappy marriage.

Maintain Your Parenting Plan

A parenting plan is a legally binding document that sets out the requirements for your childrens’ care following a divorce. If you and your ex’s attorneys have been ethical, it will have been shaped to ensure you and your children benefit from a fair division of parental responsibility and time sharing. As such, it is one of the most important agreements to form part of your divorce finalization. Both you and your ex need to ensure you stick to the terms of your parenting plan.

If your former spouse breaches the plan, taking the matter to court isn’t always the best immediate response. Expert family lawyers and solicitors advise that spouses should first try to reasonably discuss the matter and refer to the terms of the agreement. Don’t respond with a tit-for-tat breach of the plan yourself. Make a note of the circumstances, though. If the problem persists, provide the details to your attorney and seek their advice on how to proceed.

Support the Blend

After the divorce, you and your ex will naturally want to move on with your lives. This could involve you both becoming involved in new relationships. Over time, other children could be brought into the equation, resulting in blended family situations. This isn’t unusual; around 50% of families in the U.S. are remarried or recoupled. But it can certainly be difficult, especially given that your children will have new step-parents in their lives.

Always aim to be civil when interacting with your ex’s partner. You don’t have to be best friends, but your kids will take notice of your relationship with one another and issues here can make them feel uncomfortable. Work together to cultivate respect between your families, including stepparents as they offer stability to each child.  Recognize the difficulties and commit to a collaboration that provides the best experience for one another and your children.

Wrapping Up

Joint custody is often the best outcome for you, your former spouse, and your children. That doesn’t mean to say it’s always smooth sailing. It’s important for you and your ex to make efforts to address conflicts as they arise and keep communicating with one another regarding a number of issues, including child support payments. Remember that your parenting plan is designed to prioritize your childrens’ welfare, so you must maintain it. If a blended family situation arises, work to ensure everyone is respected and supported. It takes some effort and coordination, but a successful co-parenting experience is vital to your and your childrens’ well-being.

Additional Resources

• • Homeschooling and co-parenting while going through divorce
  • How Children of Single Parents are Affected

Old family photos are not like any other photos you own. Not only that it signifies your family ties, history, and heritage, it bears personal value to you and your family members. Photos share stories and carry deep emotions that words can’t describe.

These photos serve as a remembrance to a family member you lose and a great way to share and pass around fond memories with the younger generations.

We share family photos for a variety of reasons. For one, it’s our way of maintaining relationships with our loved ones. Or, it may be to celebrate a special occasion like Father’s Day or to simply strengthen our relationships with distant friends through social media.  Sharing family photos lets the people we love know that we value the relationship, and photo sharing expresses our desire to nurture it.

But in order to preserve your family’s legacy, sharing your old family photos with friends and other family members needs to be safe and secure.

Ways of Sharing Family Photos

There are tons of ways to share these photos online, but their security and safety may be in question. The security and safety of the images we share have become a problem when technology makes it convenient and fast but poses a significant risk because of privacy and security issues.

Photos (especially digital ones) provide a lot of information such as location, date, and time. And if these pieces of information are accessed by others outside your circle of friends and family, they can be manipulated and used to harm you and your family as a whole.

There are two methods of sharing photos: digital or online photo sharing through social media, cloud-based softwares, and other online applications, and the “old school” printed images.

While both of these methods are great, you need to establish effective ways to ensure that you are safely sharing your precious family photos.

Digital Photo Sharing

Sharing photos online takes only a few clicks and taps on your digital device, but as much as they offer convenience and digital storage, they are not as secure. Though this may be the case, there are ways you can minimize the risks of privacy breaches on the photos you share by taking the following safety measures.

Social Media

The most common mistake of social media sharing is that people tend to get too comfortable with sharing everything without realizing that other people are not on social media to socialize. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media sites have become a hub of scammers and hackers whose purpose is to trick people into giving out information they can use for their own agenda.

Explore Privacy Settings

When sharing photos on social media such as Facebook, read and understand the privacy settings before you share. This might sound tedious, but these privacy settings are created to ensure you understand how a specific platform uses stores and access all information you share within that platform.

Privacy settings allow you to choose the audience you want to access and view the photo you share. You can restrict specific people or groups of people by making a selection in the privacy settings dropdown.

Beware of Red flags

The red flags in social media have become sophisticated over time. You can almost never tell who the person you are communicating to because of hackers and scammers who pose to be someone else to get your information.

Confirm the person’s identity by contacting the person through other means like texts, email, or by calling them. This will ensure that the person asking you to share a photo is really the person you know and trust.

Another red flag to look out for is when you receive a new friend request from a person who claims to be one of your family members. In some cases, they could be someone else entirely. Withhold sharing photos with someone you have not established trust and whose identity you have not confirmed yet.

Cloud-based Photo Sharing Software

A more private way of sharing photos online is through cloud-based photo-sharing softwares such as Google Drive, Onedrive, and Dropbox, to name a few. Sharing photos through these platforms are completed through user-to-user sharing or through a sharable link.

Confirm Email Address

In this method of sharing photos, whether through user-based sharing or a sharable link, you need the person’s email address to complete the sharing process. Though email addresses are private, it is hackable. Taking extra precautions by calling or texting the owner couldn’t hurt to ensure your photos are not compromised.

Instant Messaging App

Unlike the examples listed above, instant messaging apps like Messenger, Whatsapp, and telegram also allow users to send and share photos but are more geared toward sending individual photos than sharing bulk images through the cloud. These apps are also hackable; hence taking the extra step mentioned above to protect your photos is highly advisable.

Sharing Physical Photo Print

If you want to avoid the risk of digital photo sharing entirely, sharing old family photos as physical photo prints is the best way to go. It gives an intimate, ethereal sense in a tangible way that allows family members to display old family photos on their office desks or display a large wall portrait in their living room or bedroom.

You can choose to share individual printed photos, framed portraits, or an album of photo compilation.  It doesn’t have to be an expensive process. You can print photos at home, or visit a local printing service that offers different types of photo prints. For those looking to share memories in a more creative and consolidated manner, using an online photo collage maker can be a fantastic way. It allows you to combine multiple old family photos into one beautifully crafted image, making it perfect for both physical and digital sharing.

Granted that physical photo prints accompany the cost of printing, the end result of a timeless display of family heritage that you can pass along to your family members will last throughout the years (with the right amount of care). Besides, without the risk of these treasured photos getting into the hands of the wrong people is worth every penny.

Final Thoughts

However you want to share your old family photos, whether through digital means or old school photo prints, the importance of making sure that they are safely shared with family members, and friends cannot be undermined. Following the safety precautions above will significantly lower the odds of compromising the memory and legacy that your old family photos represent.