preschool playground-my 3yr6mth son hurt-any advice?

[jeanini]

hi, when i picked up my 3 and half yr old son frm preschool today i had to sign the accident book. he had a cut head nose and all above his top lip. they said thay they had been jumping over hurdles in the playground on concrete i presume from his face, and that he had clipped his foot on one of the hurdles and fell straight onto his face. I was to shocked to really say anything to them when i picked him up. but when i took him out later everyone has been commenting on how he injured his face and when i said at preschool jumping hurdles they were r shocked. I want to say something to the manager there but not to over-react. any advice please?

[Notquitesotiredmum]

Hi. I would ask for a quiet word so that the preschool manager can explain again what happened. It seems a very strange activity to me, but until you have had chance to find out what was going on, it's probably best to hold onto your hat. There may be a good explanation.

[cod]

oh fgs
he flel over
whats the deal

[puff]

I think hurdles on a concrete playground for very young children is a bit dim tbh and you should talk to the manager. If I ever set up hurdles etc when I was teaching (KS1) - it was on the grass - safer all round until they are a bit more co-ordinated!

[Hattie05]

jeanini, have you seen the equipment they were talking about? I cannot imagine any 3 yr old making it over a real hurdle, d'you think they could have meant a smaller object?

[puff]

we had mini hurdles - designed especially for children

[puff]

they were about the height of those things little dogs jump over in Crufts

[supakids]

He fell over and that is going to happen it is such a shock that you see the little mite hurt. I had my ds with a cut finger (quite deep) they had been using KNIVES to cut vegetables at nursery. I never had an explanation, apology not even an accident book! Dont know what you can do to be honest. Like you i was a bit disappointed.

[LeahE]

TBH I'd take the attitude that they are going to fall over. DS is 16 months and has grazed all up one side of his face before coming off the slide. I know the most he can have come off is about 2 inches off the floor but also know what DS is like no force of nature is going to keep him from throwing himself headfirst into danger when he feels like it. I'm impressed nursery manage to keep him as uninjured as they do, given his general approach to life. Relatively minor bumps can cause terrible-looking injuries but they heal so quickly at this age. If the behaviour they are describing sounds out of character fot your DS then I'd discuss with his room leader/key worker, but otherwise let it go. Kids fall over and hurt themselves it's what they do.

P.S. My record for DS is being in the accident book 4 days out of 5. I asked if they were all like this and could see the care assistant wanted to tell me it was all perfectly normal, but hinesty compelled her to admit "well, he does seem to feature a bit more often than the other children..." (I kmnow other children DS's age who have been in maybe once or twice in the past year. He is very well into double figures). But he's not been in the accident book for three weeks now -- a record in the other direction, haha!

[threebob]

he fell over - it happens. The activity sounds age appropriate if they were little hurdles.

[LIZS]

Sorry he got hurt but agree with the others such accdients do happen. Perhaps check exactly what he was doing and where he fell but even grass/earth can be hard to fall on (it has been very hot these past few days and will have dried out) and cause grazes.

[maddiebean]

I'm another teacher I agree that hurdles are fine as an activity but as others have said, doing them on a concrete surface with very young children is a bit dim. I'd just check where he was doing them before saying anything. Along the lines of 'I was just wondering where the children were practising their hurdles the other day?! just a nice open question with no accusations! If they say the grass then you can say, 'isn't it great they can get out in the lovely weather ' and privately marvel at how your ds injured himself like that on grass or if they say the playground just say 'oh right....' and see what else they say!
As we all know toddlers/preschoolers could injure themselves with a bit of cotton wool (!!!) but it does sound a bit careless to me. Hope he heals up quickly.

[MamaMaiasaura]

fgs - i am sure they werent tazering them for now going over the hurdles..

Do you have full details of what happened? I am sure they wouldnt have put him in unessacary danger - more than there job is worth.

I remember at school having huge climbing frame - concrete underneath.

All this extra vigilant kids cant scratch themselves or we will sue attitude now means that in many schools - ds's included they do not have play equipment.

[cod]

lol at awne

[jeanini]

thanks 4 all your comments. Ill find out full facts when i spk to them next at preschool.

[stoppinattwo]

I think you should get all the facts. I think that schools should take away all obvious risks that can be easily removed.
Its sounds like it could easily have been a lot worse. If he's hit his face on concrete from tripping over during a school activity then I would tactfully get the details as maddiebean suggests. An accident of this nature during playtime is more understandable, racing around a playground.
I know some think its an acceptable risk but if it is easily avoidable then why take it, he could have done much worse.
I may sound like I would make a big deal about it, I dont wrap my kids up in cotton wool but I would expect school to have adequate risk assessments on all activities.

[MamaMaiasaura]

stoppinatwo - unfortubatkey tho more often than not positive risk taking doesnt happen & i personally think it should. That is a part of learning and decision making for the children themselves

[stoppinattwo]

I understand what you mean Awen, children do need to encounter positive risk taking or they would never develop a sense of achievement, I just thought in this case it was a case of learning to ride a bike without ever using stablisers. In a lesson in school a child often doesnt have the same choice that he would have with his friends at play time. If hes told to do a particular activity, he may feel out of his depth but not want to say he doesnt want to do it. Then if he hurts himself he may not want to do it again, a lot depends on the child. I just thought, rightly or wrongly, that at the age he is a more gentle surface than a concrete floor would have been a bit more suitable for hurdles, however low they may have been, I mean if it had been inside in a gymnasium there would have been mats down incase they fall.

[SueW]

Some people don't believe bikes should have stabilisers - they believe it discourages the child from learning balance etc. \link{http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/infozone/article.php?id=4869\Here's an example} :)

[stoppinattwo]

point taken SueW, I was just using that as an example of reducing what I saw as a risk, the same could be said for arm bands when swimming, Its all about choice and whatyou think your child can cope with. My DS learnt to ride a bike with stabilisers as I wasnt able to spent the time with him to give him the one 2 one he would need, DD wasnt walking at the time so got a bit fed up if left behind . Also he wasnt into falling off and was increadibly nervous, he's a very cautious child. But thats only my perspective and what you're all saying is right, some kids are braver and tougher than others. their courage and confidence like everything else develops at different pace

[MamaMaiasaura]

i seriously doubt that a 3 and half year old would have the depth of psychoilogical analyisis of peer pressure - fear of asking etc. :)

Also from original post - it appears that it is not clear what happened. At that age i doubt they would be doing full on hurdles - may have been blocks about 2 inches high for them to jump over.

A child friendlier surface may be more suitable tho

[maddiebean]

Stoppinattwo - ever thought of a career in the diplomatic service!
Interesting to see everyones views on this, just to put it into perspective, my (not elderly) mum managed to break her leg in two places slipping over on a piece of grass between the pavement and her car It's just impossible to stay safe all the time!

Maddie
x

[stoppinattwo]

I pride myself maddiebean . thanks 4 that
I think everyones entitled to their opinion, an lifes too short to get yr knickers in a twist about a debate that everyone has their own valid slant.

Have thought bout changin my job tho cos i absolutely HATE it at the moment, do you think I'd be a good diplomatic whatteva??

[stoppinattwo]

Awen,dont think I would have the depth of psychological analysis of peer pressure never mind a 3yr old , I dont even know what it means - short words please .

[MamaMaiasaura]

\link{http://dictionary.reference.com/\here} hth

[stoppinattwo]

Thanx Awen, you realise now youve given me a whole new room to play in,

Here is yesterdays word for the day

cupidity \kyoo-PID-uh-tee, noun:
Eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth; greed; avarice.

quite like this word, think I'll change my name