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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think getting hit by a swing

110 replies

RalphLaurenLover · 02/03/2014 09:50

To think getting hit by a swing Is a life lesson? Everyone does it at some point at least once!

A friend and me took our dc's to the park yesterday and a lady was pushing her DS on the swing, friends little boy run out behind it and nearly got hit the lady then told my friend she needed to "take better care of her DS" as a "good mother wouldn't let their kid run around the park like that" Hmm

I did have a word with her stating that she could of just said be careful and moved on but she was having none of it because we'd obviously left out super mum powers in the car Hmm even if she ran she wouldn't of caught her DS in time
I mean everyone in their life gets hit by a swing at some point right? I mean that's how we learn to not run behind or in front of a swing when it's moving Grin yeah it hurts but that's life

OP posts:
WooWooOwl · 02/03/2014 11:03

YABU.

That's like saying hit by a car is a life lesson that will just teach small children not to run out on the road.

It's really not that hard to teach your children not to go in front of swings when there's someone on them, same as it's not that hard to teach your children to cross a road safely.

There are other places for children to run.

Original poster
RalphLaurenLover · 02/03/2014 11:03

Nenny

  1. That's in a very extreme case
  2. if he's dead or paralysed then he won't be running around the swings however horrible that is.

but kids run around a park, they get hit by swings it happens all the time.

OP posts:
nennypops · 02/03/2014 11:06

It's not such an extreme case, OP, it does happen. Do you want to take that risk rather than teach your child not to run near swings?

Sirzy · 02/03/2014 11:10

My uncle has been left with life long problems after an accident involving a swing.

Leaving children to it doesn't teach them to assess risk sensibly. As parents you need to actively teach them how to behave and if that involves running around behind a child grabbing them before they walk into a dangerous situation then that's what you do.

I am not sure how anyone can be so accepting of a child potentially being seriously injured. Would you just tell your child not to run into a road or would you take sensible precautions to help them learn how to behave and why?

Beverleymoss · 02/03/2014 11:10

YABU,

You teach a child not to run near the swing first, you don't let them learn by being hit ffs.

Once they understand then they're ready to be allowed to run freely.

Pumpkinpositive · 02/03/2014 11:12

I was never hit by a swing as a child, nor do I remember it happening to any friends. The consequences could be quite serious (broken teeth, fractures).

Any child old enough to be running about freely in a swing park would know to give swinging swings a wide berth, surely? And if they don't know that, maybe mum should be keeping a closer guard on them?

Original poster
RalphLaurenLover · 02/03/2014 11:15

Pumpkin it's not a swing park

We have young children bits mixed in with older children bits theirs bits young children can use mixed in with the older right next to the swings.

Children should be allowed to run around a park otherwise where else are they going to run around?!

The swings are blocked or cornered off they're just there

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/03/2014 11:16

YaBU. Since being hit by a swing could be extremely dangerous.

Life lesson. .being out without coat and getting xold, not getting smashed in head by a swing.

ppeatfruit · 02/03/2014 11:17

As an ex CM\nanny EY teacher and M of 3. I've had a LOT of experience of parks and swings Grin .It's so easy to take your eye off the DCs and I've always been very firm about keeping away from the swings and other playground equipment that are being played with

At least now the playgrounds are much safer but DCs need challenges and the H &S brigade are a bit ridiculous (it's bad enough that a lot of DCs are kept in with their screens).

Sirzy · 02/03/2014 11:18

You do realise that children can run around but be kept safe by their parents at the same time? It is your job to keep your child safe not just allow them to run free irrespective of risk.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 02/03/2014 11:19

In my day, it was a wooden swing onto gravel...

Pumpkinpositive · 02/03/2014 11:20

Then as I suggest, if they're not old enough to know themselves to give swings a wide berth, they're not old enough to be running around freely in that situation.

You seem to think getting clobbered by a swing is a rite of passage for a young child, regardless of the potential very serious consequences. I disagree.

Draughts · 02/03/2014 11:21

It is a life lesson, but it's okay to teach it to them before the accident happens. DS2 was hit by a swing and needed stitches across his brow line. He was only 3 & I just wasn't quick enough. It's fair to say I do now shriek (at my own children) across the playground if they running too near to the swings.

lljkk · 02/03/2014 11:21

YADNBU.
Totally U of the other mum to harp at OP's friend like that. Yes she could have taken more care, but it was a non-event overall.

usualsuspect33 · 02/03/2014 11:23

I was always yorping at mine to mind the swing.

The other mother was a twat to say that though.

BackOnlyBriefly · 02/03/2014 11:24

Of course getting hit by a swing is bad, but it's a balance isn't it. The way to make it less likely is to teach children to be careful. The only way to be absolutely sure it won't happen is to lock them in the basement.

The trick is to find the middle path with enough freedom to develop and the minimal chance of getting injured.

The aim can't be to avoid all accidents.

francesdrake · 02/03/2014 11:30

She probably felt as the adult nearest to the swing at the time that she'd be responsible for anything that happened to the child if he was hit. How did she know your friend wouldn't go ballistic if her DS had been caught by the edge of the swing as he ran past?

Dilidali · 02/03/2014 11:32

welsh, I'm sorry, but your description is so funny! Bless her, you must have died when that happened.

Another one here remembering the gravel under the swing! I have no marks, but I remember exactly how painful it was!

LordEmsworth · 02/03/2014 11:34

If your child was running about in the road, they probably wouldn't get hit by a car - but they might. Therefore you'd tell them not to do it, rather than insist they learn the "life lesson".

I'm with Nenny = a moving swing with a person on it is fast and heavy, and the human neck has limited range of motion to absorb it. If it hits your arm then it'll leave a bruise, possibly break it, but you'll survive. If it hits your head/neck, it can break your neck

As you point out - your DS wouldn't be able to do it again, but it seems a really harsh way to learn

maddening · 02/03/2014 11:34

it depends in how old your friend's ds is - if he is a 5yo or over perhaps but if it was a younger dc such as under 4 I would expect your friend to be keeping a closer eye - a swing hitting a much younger dc is more dangerous than an older dc

Smilesandpiles · 02/03/2014 11:34

It's one of those things that can only be learnt by either listening to the warning or getting hurt by it because you didn't listen. Chances are they'll only do it once if they get hurt.

How many times have you told your kids - "Don't touch! It's hot!" They make take notice of you, but the chances are, they'll only notice once they've burnt themselves (lightly we hope). They'll not do it again though usually

AnnieOats · 02/03/2014 11:35

I think if your children are too young to realise the danger of swings then you need to be near enough to grab them if they run in front of one.

Isn't it what you would do whenever you were near anything that could harm them?

Years ago I just managed to grab a swing that my DS was on as a toddler walked straight in front of it. His mother was sat down on a bench busy talking to her friend and taking no notice of him.

hazeyjane · 02/03/2014 11:36

The other mother was being harsh, but as Others have said, being hit by a swing isn't a 'life lesson'. It would be the same sort of life lesson as being hit by a car, and I try to anything I can to avoid that happening!

Also, you know some people do shadow their children around parks, quite carefully,they might have very good reason.

unlucky83 · 02/03/2014 11:37

I got hit just above the eye by a swing (one we had in our garden) when I was a child...it was just the corner, wooden seat...and I was pushing my neighbour on it rather than running behind...
Blood running down my face, couldn't see cos it was in my eyes (so thought I was blind), stitches, scar for life ..and gave my mum a shock!
(No house phone, mum didn't drive etc, she took me to the local ambulance
station and they took me to casualty - one of the ambulance men gave me a chocolate digestive from his lunch box - what a kind man Smile -wish I could thank him as an adult - became my only nice memory of it)
I was lucky it got me on my eyebrow - it could have got me full in the eye and who knows what damage that could have done...blind in one eye?

So mine do run around parks - just don't run behind or in front of swings...and are careful when pushing others...

Whilst you can't stop DCs from ever having accident -lots of opportunities for that in life you can't avoid -but you can reduce the chances...

(John our swings at the park were wooden on tarmac/concrete Shock!)

ArgyMargy · 02/03/2014 11:37

You could apply Darwin theory here. Those stupid enough to get hit by swings won't survive to pass on their stupid gene.