3rd accident on the climbing frame at school

Bublin1

maman wrote: »

I'm pleased you said that but I think you need to think it through a little more carefully. Are you expecting the school staff (breaktime and lunchtime?) to physically stop her going on the climbing frame (or even harder to stop her climbing too high once she's on there) or are you expecting your daughter to keep away from it herself. Policing this is going to be very difficult. I'd suggest you had a talk with her teacher/Headteacher to come up with what's practical/possible in the school situation rather than sending in a letter. This isn't the same as you supervising her 1:1 in a playpark.

Nah, I'm not one of 'those' parents!
I'm thinking just a 1 week restriction. The last time they were quite happy to follow my instructions. I will also speak to the school and ask them to tell me if she isn't following instruction. If it's not working out then I have no choice but to let her carry on, let her learn her own lessons as well as talking to her more deeply about it as up until now we've just had casual conversations.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Bublin1 wrote: »

The last time she was told to stay off it completely for 4 days, she fully understood why - the hole in her tongue - and she was happy to play elsewhere and inside. The teacher just talked to her about it and she obeyed.
We briefly talked about it this evening and I said I may have to restrict her use. She said, 'Because I keep hurting myself mummy?' I said yes and she said, ' I have to be more careful'. Bless her.

No, no consequences for the school. I know it's not there fault. As I said I just want to restrict going on the very top bar as this is where apparently the slipping is happening.

Two things spring to mind when reading your posts.

1. she won't learn greater physical control if she isn't allowed to play on something - banning her from it means she won't be able to develop her physical strength, balance and coordination.

2. the Laws of Parenting (closely linked with the Laws of S*d and Murphy) dictate that that, once banned from doing something 'dangerous', she will inevitably damage herself more severely when walking in a straight line/falling off a 3" step/turning round/sitting down/jumping, hopping or running during PE or any other ridiculously innocuous situation.



Some of us bowl headfirst into things like that. We get bruises, bumps, grazes, the occasional fracture, egg sized lumps on the head from crashing into somebody else doing the same as us in the opposite direction, and whilst they are not pleasant, we're much happier and resilient than the poor fearful kid sat in the corner of the playground watching us have fun. There will be falling out of trees (if she's lucky - tree climbing seems to be a dying sport), falling off bikes, falling over on rollerskates, skateboards and far, far more to come in the next few years.


You just need to have a good stock of first aid equipment and keep those nerves of steel.

Spendless

Who supervises the children on the climbing frame? I ask because about 9 years ago I worked as a lunchtime assistant at a Primary with climbing equipment. We weren't able to let children use it during our care as we did not have the right insurance to cover us if an issue occurred, only teaching staff did. Assuming that there's also a maximum amount of kids allowed on at any one time, it shouldn't be an issue to make sure that your DD keeps off for a few days.

Longer term I agree that she needs to experience how to climb safely rather than outright ban her. I think going to Gym classes is a fab idea.

Re - her tongue. I just wanted to say to you, that my husband has had mouth Cancer and had to have a chunk taken away, we were told that the tongue has an amazing ability not to regrow but to repair itself.

mcja

Quick question....had/was it raining when your dd slipped and bumped? Are the frames wooden or metal?

Just wondered if they are wood because it can become incredibly slippery when its wet, so maybe a compromise would be to suggest your dd doesn't play on it if it looks dark brown instead of light brown (wet instead of dry).

Hope I have explained what I meant, it made sense in my head!!

Mr_Toad

Personally I think your daughter is amazing and if you can curb your natural instinct to overprotect she will grow up to be a self assured, confident and very capable woman.

My daughter climbed everything, there was no wall or tree unclimbed for miles. She used to spend summer evenings sitting on the roof outside her bedroom window.

When she was 8 we were walking on Curber edge in the Peak District, it's a popular spot with climbers and the rock face was covered with them. She was transfixed and we couldn't keep her away.

A couple of students from Sheffield Uni asked he if she'd like a go and there was no way we could have stopped her. They put her in a helmet and harness and roped her up. They gave her some basic instruction and off she went. She went up what was classed as severe climb like it was a ladder. When she got to the top she flatly refused to walk down the long way and insisted on abseiling like the rest. I'll never forget the look of abject pleasure on her face as she launched herself into space and cam down. We spent the rest of the day watching her climb with them.

Two months later we bought her a pair of proper climbing shoes and the rest of the kit and at 25 is now a skilled climber and a confident outgoing human being.

Some children are born to adventure and take risks. Try not to stifle her too much and she'll be fine.

heartbreak_star

I wish my mum had been a bit more like you, OP, and some of the other posters.

I was wrapped in cotton wool as a child, and now - at 34 - I can't even go ice skating without hearing "You'll break your ankle!!" in the back of my head...or on our local assault course without hearing "You'll break your neck!" or to gymnastics without hearing "You're built too heavy for that!".

I was never allowed near a climbing frame ("you don't want to go on there, all those kids are going to hurt themselves"), and was juuuuust about allowed to take dance classes provided I didn't overexert myself.

My mum is wonderful. I just wish she'd been a little less overprotective

HBS x

Cotta

I agree, let her continue. Cuts and bruises are all part of growing up and if she is like most of us when we were kids if she is told not to go onto the frame it will only make her more determined to do so.

Mojisola

Bublin1 wrote: »

My dd is very adventurous and looooves to climb. She is the girl who wants to push the boundaries and do everything. She's tough little thing and dusts herself off if she's hurt....which is almost never when she's with me.

Your daughter sounds amazing! Please don't restrict her adventurous side.

Interesting that she doesn't get hurt when you're around - is she modifying her behaviour because she knows Mum gets anxious?

Mr_Toad

Mojisola wrote: »

Your daughter sounds amazing! Please don't restrict her adventurous side.

Interesting that she doesn't get hurt when you're around - is she modifying her behaviour because she knows Mum gets anxious?

Adventurous and clever! :T

DS4215

If she is wanting to climb and be adventurous and is clever, sign her up for gymnastics at your local club/sports centre. It sounds like she has all of the personality traits needed to be a success at the sport.