How old should children be before we have a garden pond?

seven-day-weekend

ailuro2 wrote: »

Exactly my point- where is the cut-off point,though? I think it has changed over the years and it can get confusing.

I know we used to play (daily) a game we called cribby/kerby- the game where you throw a ball from one side of the road to the other and try to hit the opposite kerb, then when you got a hit you stood in the middle of the road to try for bonus points.:eek: I'd have kittens if I thought my 8yo DD would even think about doing that- even though our street is as quiet as the one where I grew up (without getting run over:D )

My friend and I used to take it in turns to see how close we could ride our bikes to the other one's head while they were laying in the road!:eek:

seven-day-weekend

Spendless wrote: »

The difference is the pond is there with water in all the time. A pond is usually at ground level so you can wade/trip/fall into it.

seven day weekend - I made that point at the beginning, that you need to use loo etc and can not say with 100% accuraccy that you can be in garden at all times.

Take the child with you.

Although I was lucky, my toilet was downstairs at the back of the house, so I only had to take him onto the patio.

Spendless

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Take the child with you.

Although I was lucky, my toilet was downstairs at the back of the house, so I only had to take him onto the patio.

and if you have two children like I and the OP does. As I said not always practical.

ailuro2

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

My friend and I used to take it in turns to see how close we could ride our bikes to the other one's head while they were laying in the road!:eek:

We did a thing called 'nightmare' where you laid down under a swing,facing upwards while someone swung back and forth above,skimming their feet over you. The challenge was not to wince...:rotfl:

alm721

Is there any way you could erect a small fence around it, need'nt be anything fancy just a few posts with pointed ends to hammer in and some wire. We've always had a pond and to be honest the benefits my daughter gets in terms of pond dipping, watching the frogs/tapoles, birds etc that it attracks, far outweighs the possible dangers. That said I would never leave a young child unattended near water, but we found putting a cheap wire fence around it while she was younger worked for us. You cannot elimate dangers everywhere surely its better to teach kids respect for danger rather then try and eliminate it completely.

UKTigerlily

My Grandparents had a pond & 11 kids, 28 grandkids later none fell into it. They had it covered with like chicken wire type stuff, not wire but I know what I mean!

Horasio

alba37 wrote: »

I agree, accidents can happen any where at any time. As parents it's our reponsibility to keep our children as safe as possible but also for them to learn right from wrong.

My son grew up with a swimming pool right outside our door, as did/do many children and although I do know there have been tragic accidents I have never known of any personally.

I didn't have the option to cover the pool.

We had an outside pool when I was 6 and I couldn't swim, it had no cover either - I knew to keep away from it or approach from the shallow end!

Coupon-mad

I have read all these posts and can see both sides....but I say fill the flippin' pond in. I would never have a pond with kids of any age (I have 4 children and when we looked for our current house I wouldn't even look at a house if it mentioned on the particulars there was a pond).

If there was a pond next door and any gaps in the fence I would fill the gaps and tell my neighbour of my worries about their pond, I know I wouldn't be able to sleep with worry (and my kids are not toddlers).

Just one child drowning in a pond is too many, at least this is one hazard that can generally be prevented. I can't see that a fence is going to stop a wandering/climbing child who has slipped away from his parent for a minute.



P.S. FWIW I also keep all medicines, cleaners and tools well out of reach of my younger children (under ten); the thermostat on our taps is low enough for the hot water not to be scalding; no cups of tea are allowed on low tables unless pushed to the back against the wall; I only use the back 2 rings of my hob unless I am literally standing in front of it; our sinks don't have the plugs available to the children; I refuse to drive if anyone in my car is not buckled up........etc, etc.

We have a climbing frame, we drive, play sports, take active holidays and our kids are VERY adventurous...but I would rather be considered over-careful with serious hazards than live to regret it.

ailuro2

Good for you, coupon mad, we only have a heatguard on the handwashing sink, we'd never be able to run a bath or wash dishes if we had them on them all.

Door stops on all the doors,the inner gap covered? sockets plugged in where kids can reach?

My point is that there will always be a hazard to be found, no matter how safe we think we make the place.;) I would never call anyone over cautious, it is up to ourselves where we draw the line.

dawnybabes

"While we all want to do everything humanly possible to safeguard our kids they do need to be taught to always think safety, no matter how old they are.Yes, we have drawer locks and heatguards, but not on every drawer and tap as life would be impractical. "


Whats a heatguard ?