We all want to keep our kids safe when they’re exploring the playground, but one innocent thing parents do could actually put their child in more danger. Research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition claims that when a parent places a child on their lap to go down the slide, they increase their child’s risk of leg injuries.
The 2017 study found that an estimated 352,698 children under the age of six were injured while going down slides in the U.S. from 2002 through 2015. Fractures made up 36 percent of those injuries and it usually occurred with toddler’s legs. The reason? Parents place their kiddos on their lap in order to protect their child or give them confidence before they tackle the slide on their own, but sometimes those little legs get caught between their caregivers’ legs and the edge or bottom of the slide while in motion.
Little ones who slide on their own are less likely to suffer from a severe leg injury because there’s little weight bearing down on them if their foot catches on something. Now imagine if that same little leg was caught while speeding down a slide with the weight of an adult behind the force. Yeah, ouch.
Next time you're at the playground with a nervous toddler, encourage him from the sidelines and catch him at the bottom of the slide, or just tackle that colorful mountain when they're a little older.
Looking for cool play spaces around NYC? Then check out our lists of the best playgrounds in NYC, indoor playgrounds for kids and our favorite kids' play spaces.