to think that rope swings aren't THAT dangerous?

[HiImBarryScott]

I was staying with my folks at the weekend and explored the local woods with the kids (age 9 & 6). We found a rope swing and the kids had great time.

I think this is the stuff that childhood is made of, but when I told my mum and she was all "Oh - I can't believe you let the boys go on that....they're so dangerous! Your auntie's friend's brother (or something like that) knew someone's who fell off one and broke his back."

Are they that bad? I think that she has just got more wary of danger as she's gotten older, but maybe I'm wrong....?

I must be an equally blasé parent- these swings always make my dcs day, although they'll bicker like mad over it. Provided it's attached firmly, in my opinion it's about as dangerous as a playground swing. I am prepared to be corrected though

It depends on where the swing is situated too. Over a steep drop/stream/rocks = dangerous and I wouldn't let a young child use it. Over a pile of leaves/mud/grass = acceptable risk and I'll be first on there. To check it will hold the children's' weight, obviously.

YANBU. My DM would probably have said the same though, but only because she seems to have to find the negative in everything that I say.

Is it because of the young boy who died in glasgow last week on the rope swing in his garden? That's maybe put it in her mind, news report here

At the weekend I got dd to stand up on a tyre swing, hold the rope with one hand and read a Famous Five. And I took her cycle helmet off first.

Worst Mother Ever.

We tied a rope around a tree and swung out over the local fast flowing river. Circa 1976..

My dd went on a well planned risk assessed school trip where the teacher was killed and she badly injured. 2012.

Accidents happen anywhere at anytime.

Oh dear - I didn't know about the boy in Glasgow. How terrible. Maybe she did hear about that.

Probably one of the most dangerous things you can do is to get into a car. At the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland, more people were dying and getting injured in traffic accidents than by the violence.