By Amanda C. Lewis

Front Facing Installation

Convertible car seat can face forward or backward. If you want you can install your it as front facing with a LATCH method.

Without using the LATCH method you can install it as well. Actually, the installing task is not so hard or troublesome task. In most of the countries it is lawful to rotate it from backward to forward facing at weight of 20 lbs as well as at the age of 1.

You should know that forward facing kid seat is the primary stage apparatus which is under the sort of Group 1 where child is placed frontward facing.

Installation with LATCH

For the installing task, first you have to take out the connectors of LATCH from cargo space if they are piled up. After that you have to drag equally connectors by the front facing belt slot at the frontage of it.

It is important to make certain that they are both on the correct side. You have to fix the LATCH connector next to you which is comfortable for you. Then turn it into the appropriate frontward place, and then fix the extra connector to the lingering anchor.

Installation with Belt

Thread your car belt by the frontward facing slot and in the backside of its seat. Tie up the belt and pushing down on it to make tighter. Then you have to make certain that the belt is not distorted.

Turn the lock-off lever down on the opposite side of the car belt buckle to unlock prior to binding its belt if applying shoulders the belt and a lap. When dragging the shoulder belt taut, turn lever back up once more. Finally, you should make sure the car's seat does not shift more than 1 inch in any position at the belt lane.

Rear Facing Installation

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declares that around 85 percent of car seats are inappropriately installed. But, installing it properly is indeed an important task. You should do it properly.

To install the seat appropriately, first you have to put the seat in the center of the rear seat of your car. Then you have to fold up recline stand below the seat.

Fix as well as tighten its belt to your seat. Then you have to thread your seat belt by the front facing slot. After that, thread your seat belt below the seat pad. You have to buckle your car's seat belt.

Moreover, force down tightly on your seat as well as drag the belt to make tighter. Finally you should check your seat properly for slackness.

Installing convertible car seat is so much important for the protection of your baby. So you should do the task properly.

By Shelby Strong

When I hear the word "leadership" my mind fills with memories. Some of these memories are of teachers, friends, and family. They are of people I looked up to, who helped me grow and push the edges of my comfort zone. Others are of activities and accomplishments, like swimming 37 widths across a swimming pool, as a young swimmer, without stopping, or returning as a young high school student from a successful service project.

I realize now, as an adult, the lessons learned in these activities helped stretch my comfort zone as a shy young girl. These lessons helped build my character and made me a stronger person--something all parents want for their children. Here are a few way parents can encourage leadership in children of varying ages.

Do things together as a family in your home. This can provide opportunities in an environment where young people are already comfortable. For example you can teach your kids how to do specific tasks or projects and let them try. Make sure you give them positive feedback while letting them have fun. One mother I know sings the steps to making dinner and as they finish the child sings in reply.

Encourage social interaction. Every member of the family is different so you will want to create different settings where each individual can be successful. You can have an array of different activities like art projects, science experiments, and sports. A youth working together with a soccer team to make a common goal can be exhilarating while encouraging team unity and leadership.

Help them plan and organize. Do you have girls who like to dress-up or have parties? Pull out a box of dress up clothes and give her support and encouragement by letting her plan her own party. Let her pick invitations, games, and food for her friends as she plans the party from beginning to end. Costumes can provide growth for girls and boys by putting on a play. Boys might also enjoy the challenge of building and racing Lego cars with their friends. Whether your children are quiet followers or enjoy being in the limelight, give them encouragement and help them feel successful.

Teach them to serve. Service projects are a great way for youth and adults to work together. Every participant should understand the goal and their part in it. Learning why something is done provides motivation to participate and encourages leadership. Everyone should have a piece of the project they are responsible for and they should be allowed flexibility in how they fulfill it.

Whether your family does service, sports, plays with friends or makes dinner together, taking time to reflect on the activity is important. It helps everyone see what they learned, talk about what they would change, be accountable, celebrate little and big accomplishments, make memories, and of course teaches them they can be a positive leader in their lives and the lives of others.

Shelby is the mother of 3 kids and lives in Orem, Utah. When not chasing a baby or driving kids to dance and swimming lessons, she is at the office educating people about the benefits of pretend play. She owns an online toy store boutique at https://www.playfullyeverafter.com/ and sells everything from Little Adventures and Disney brand princess dresses to backpacks and quality puzzles and toys. Check out her blog as she often gives away free products. Her Amazon store has free shipping and so does her website. If you would like to read more articles from Shelby please subscribe to her article feed.

By Dr Varsha Patel

The prevalence of "Autism" is increasing day by day. Autism spectrum disorder is only detected after 1-2 years of age and there is no indication that your child might be autistic before this age. Some of the factors that are increasing the chances of the child becoming Autistic may be due to changing lifestyle, imbalanced diet, canned processed food, stress, vaccinations, also increased habit of smoking and drinking especially in women. As old belief goes "PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE" Autism can be prevented by being little cautious and leading a healthy life style.

Precaution starts from day you start planning for a child. The moment you start planning start Folic acid supplement (dosage as per your physician's advice), folic acid is one of the major vitamin which helps prevent neural defects. Next utmost important step to be taken is STOP SMOKING AND HARD DRINKS. Avoid junk food, canned processed food, aerated drinks and canned juices. Avoid red meat and minimize non vegetarian diet, include fresh water fish to other sources of sea food. Drink plenty of water minimum 2.5 to 3 liters of water a day. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Include nuts and seeds like Brazilian nut, hazelnut, walnut, pecans, almonds, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, black dates in your daily routine.

Once you conceive, make sure you eat a balanced diet in terms of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Of course need for each nutrient increases and is different in different trimester of pregnancy. Consult a Qualified Nutritionist who will guide you through your pregnancy. Try to do activities that keep you happy and help you sleep well, take care of your self, avoid high heels - be cautious don't get into an accident. And DO NOT FORGET "NO SMOKING AND HARD DRINKS".

Post delivery; make sure you BREAST FEED your child for one year. As Breast Milk is the best and a complete Nutrients available to your infant. Do not self diet to lose weight and get in shape, while you are breast feeding your child. Eat a well balanced diet, consult a Nutritionist she will advise you. Remember what you eat will go to your child through breast milk. When your child is six months old introduce food in their diet along with Breast feeding; your child is growing and only breast milk will not suffice their needs. A Qualified Nutritionist will be the right person to advice the food that suits your baby.

Feed your child a balanced home cooked food till they are 7 year old. Do not introduce junk food, aerated drinks, canned, ready to eat processed food till the age of 7 years. This will help improve their immunity and help build a strong healthy base for a healthy life ahead.

For consultation contact us at: happylivin3@gmail.com, drvbp18@gmail.com

By Sharon C Maynard

Are you looking at wooden toy kitchens for a Christmas gift? These are excellent gifts. Not only can they provide hours of fun, but they allow the child to use their imaginations and be creative while they are 'cooking' something special.

Finding the right toy that not only initiates fun, encourages self-expression and will not be tossed aside after the paper is off the box can be a challenge today. Sometimes going back to the basics is what our children and grand children need. Hands on activities that get the mind thinking and processing ideas are a must.

Why Choose Wooden Toy Kitchens?

There are so many things to consider for Christmas gifts today and many of them require battery or electricity to work. The gifts that require hands-on play, the use of imagination and creativity not only tend to be more educational but can be inspiring as well. Toy kitchens are perfect gifts for both boys and girls; yes, boys too as many of the great chefs today are men.

Wooden kitchens can be simple to complex. They can consist of a single unit that consists of a sink and a stove or it could be upper cabinets with the lower cabinets containing a sink, stove and oven. The options are endless because it's made from wood. Just like designing and building a kitchen in your home, these miniature versions can be designed and built to your needs and wants.

Some manufacturers may only offer certain layouts; others may offer an option to custom design your own. You could even contact a local craftsman and see if they will build one for you. Regardless of where you purchase one, you can still add to the wooden toy kitchens once purchased. Wood is very versatile and it can be stained, painted or even varnished. The kitchen will be sturdy and will last a long time.

Life with Wooden Toy Kitchens

Toy kitchens will be part of play when the little girl is pretending to be the mommy to her many dolls. They will also be part of a little boy's playtime when it's time to help out and make a snack for the family. Relatives can give additional gifts such as fake food, dishes and cookware to enhance the gift and increase the time playing with the kitchen.

The solid construction and the ability to decorate it enhance the charm of wooden kitchens compared to the plastic ones. Wood will last longer and a new coat of paint will renew the appeal of the kitchen for any child. You remodel your kitchen, why can't your children remodel theirs?

When giving this type of gift, include other smaller gifts to increase the playtime that the children will want to spend with the wooden kitchen. Have the child open a small table and chairs or plastic dishes and food before unwrapping the kitchen. They may get excited about the smaller gift itself but when they see the bigger gift they will know exactly how to put it all together.

Christmas is a very special time of year and giving gifts is a lot of fun. However, giving gifts that are educational and fun at the same time are even better gifts to give. Children who unwrap wooden toy kitchens at Christmas will spend many months that follow having fun fixing meals, cleaning and organizing their very own kitchen.

By Susan Bennet

Holding a birthday party can be a unique experience for parents as well as children. First rule of holding any party is to select the venue. All other ideas have to come from that. If you are hosting a party at a restaurant or a pizza parlor, they will usually provide you with the decorations. It can save you a lot of hassle if you choose this course of action. On the other hand if you want to hold a truly unique or different birthday party for your kid it will be well to hold it at your home.

You can decorate your party venue with lot of colorful things like balloons, buntings and even mistletoe. You can use lot of variations like making arches with balloons or using a tasteful flower arrangement. In case you are holding a theme party, you can use the participating kids as a part of your overall theme. Especially if you are doing one of the jungle party themes, you can paint the faces of the kids as animals.

Kids always enjoy getting themselves painted. You can have lot of very cute looking lions, cats and the eternal favorite monkeys dancing around your party. There are a few things that you should consider. You can hire a professional face painter or you can do it yourself. If you elect to take this option and do it yourself, you should take special care in selecting the paints. Make sure that you use FDA approved paint. Second thing is to make sure that child you are about to paint does not have acne or an open cut on his face. If he or she has any kind of skin condition, you should paint his or her hand, shoulder or some other body parts.

You should have an assortment of brushes, sponges and baby wipes. You should also have few bowls of clean water, towels and tissue papers. Most important thing is that you should have a mirror handy as kids just love to see their face after someone has painted it. In case you or the kid does not like the result, you can always wipe the original and redo it.

Another thing that you have to be very careful about is the instructions as how to remove the paint. Use wet soft baby wipes to remove the paint. Carefully read these instructions and do not forget to convey it to the parents of other children.

Susan is a full-time freelance writer. She is an avid traveler and reader. She enjoys writing on business, health & fitness, travel, parenting, relationships and personal development.

By Heather L Umphrey

New parents can easily get overwhelmed with all the baby products and gadgets out on the market that making decisions on what baby necessities are needed is almost impossible. Parents are always concerned about products that are safe, affordable and stimulating for their little one. Not only can I recommend a must-have product that meets those needs but also creates a lasting bond between baby and parent. It is the baby sling.

Baby slings have been around for quite some time and have not much evolved. They are easy to wear, easy to care for and easy to transport. Provided are the top 5 reasons to wear your baby in a sling:

1. Building Communication - with the act of holding your baby close, a parent is more equipped to pick up on their baby's cues an become attuned to their baby's gestures. Being able to read your baby's signals without them having to cry builds their trust in you, as well as increase their confidence and learning experiences. This creates a positive interaction and enhances the bond between baby and parent.

2. Convenience - baby slings allow you to move freely while holding your baby close. You are able to do your daily activities such as shopping, cooking, walking and completing errands all while holding your child. The sling fits nicely and comfortably on your shoulders. It eliminates any discomfort or awkward feelings. It also allows you to discreetly breastfeed your child while blocking stimuli. The sling can also be used as a blanket, pillow or changing pad.

3. Promoting Development - carrying your baby in a sling can promote physical development. While you carry your child, they observe your movements, breathing and heartbeat which in turn helps regulate the child's own physical responses.

4. Affordable - baby slings are cost effective when compared to other baby carrying or transporting devices. The average cost of a sling can range from $30 to $85 dollars and easily lasts for up to two years. You can also make your own sling for the ambitious parents.

5. Happier Baby - some studies have shown that babies who are held in baby slings cry less than those who are not. Instead they feel the comfort and security of their parent and are able to observe their environments and entertain themselves while being calmly stimulated.

As said before, there are many baby gadgets out there but the baby sling will surely be up there with must-have items for new parents.

Heather Umphrey is the author and the proud owner of mybabybuddy.com. We are an online baby store that sells an assortment of baby gifts whether for a newborn, first birthday or baby shower.

As a Nanny for over a decade, I got to experience an assortment of must have baby products. I have seen first hand what products have soothed, calmed, educated, secured and entertained children of all ages.

Mybabybuddy.com offers wonderful, natural, organic and stylish products for babies and moms including baby slings, baby robes and clothes, gift baskets, unique hand crafted toys and personalized gift items. Our products meet our personal standards and know that you will love them as much as we do.

We are committed to providing the best customer service. Please feel free to visit or contact us anytime at http://www.mybabybuddy.com or (800) 466-7057.

By Jill Starishevsky

I have heard them all. I have heard all the reasons why parents don't discuss child sexual abuse prevention with their children. I have heard them so often that I can recite them by heart. As the new year approaches, I decided it would be a good idea to memorialize the top 10 reasons for not discussing the subject. I invite you to add any that may have been omitted.

1. Children are seldom victims of this crime. Actually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, in the United States, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused by the time they are 18. Consider those numbers for a moment. They are shocking and devastating. Those figures alone should motivate parents to seek out prevention strategies.

2. This kind of thing doesn't happen where we live. Actually, this crime has no socio-economic boundaries. It doesn't care if you are black or white, rich or poor or what religion you practice. It can creep in when you least expect it.

3. We don't let our children go near strangers. Actually, 93% of all child sexual abuse occurs at the hands of someone known to the child and trusted by the parents. Even if a child is never around strangers, he or she could be victimized by a neighbor, a coach, a religious official or family member. Parents who teach only stranger danger are doing a disservice to their child.

4. My child is not old enough for this discussion. Actually, the appropriate age to discuss child sex abuse prevention is when a child is three years old. The conversation can start as simply as "Did you know that the parts of your body covered by a bathing suit are private and are for no one else to see or touch?" Continue the conversation by explaining to the child that he should tell Mommy, Daddy or a teacher if someone touches him on those private parts. Be sure to include any necessary exceptions for potty training, hygiene and doctor visits.

5. I don't want to scare my child. Actually, when handled properly, children find the message empowering and are not frightened at all. Parents do not refrain from teaching traffic safety for fear that their child will be afraid to cross the street. So too should we address the subject of body safety.

6. I would know if something happened to my child. Actually, child sexual abuse is difficult to detect because frequently there are no physical signs of abuse. The emotional and behavioral signs that may accompany sexual abuse can be caused by a variety of triggers.

7. My child would tell me if something happened to him. Actually, most children do not immediately disclose when they have been sexually abused. Contrary to a child who falls down and runs over to tell his parents, a child who has been sexually abused is likely being told not to tell anyone because no one will believe him, that people will say it is his fault, that the disclosure will cause great sadness in the family and that the behavior is their little secret.

8. We never leave our child alone with adults. Actually, children can be sexually abused by other children. The very same lessons that can help prevent children from being sexually abused by adults, can keep them safe from other children. Teach children what touch is appropriate and what is inappropriate, teach them the proper terminology for their private parts and teach them who they can talk to if anyone touches them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.

9. I don't want to put thoughts in her head. Actually, there is no data to indicate that a child who has been taught about child sexual abuse prevention is more likely to fabricate that they have been sexually abused. According to Victor Vieth, director of the National Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University, "Children do lie, but seldom about being abused. All human beings can and do lie, but it's hard for kids to do it about sex. They can't lie about something they have no knowledge of," he said, "and children don't learn about oral sex on Sesame Street."

10. It's not going to happen to my child. Actually, as the statistics reveal, child sexual abuse is so pervasive that it could happen to any child. This reason is the catch-all. Educated, loving parents have actually said this to me. If one were to ask any parent whose child has been sexually abused if they thought their child would ever be sexually abused, I can guarantee each one would say no. No one wants to believe this could happen to their child. We need to stop denying that it could happen and recognize that there are ways to prevent it from happening. Make the decision to talk to your child about sexual abuse prevention in 2013. It could be the greatest gift you ever give them. Have a safe and healthy New Year.

Jill Starishevsky
Prosecutor, Child Abuse/Sex Crimes
Author, My Body Belongs to Me
http://www.MyBodyBelongstoMe.com
http://www.thepoemlady.com

By Colby M Pearce

In Part One of this series, I refer to the fact that the management of severe tantrums and meltdowns in children is an arousal management issue, rather than a behaviour management issue. In this second part of the series, I will provide some tips about how to lower your child's arousal levels as strategy for reducing the likelihood and frequency of severe tantrums and meltdowns. I will also provide some tips about what to do to lower your child's arousal in the midst of a severe tantrum or meltdown.

As I mentioned in Part One, severe tantrums and meltdowns occur when a child's nervous system is highly activated; that is, highly aroused. The more highly aroused the child's nervous system is, the less reasonable they become. There is a threshold, beyond which children are incapable of thinking and acting in a reasonable manner. As a result of genetic, historical (i.e. early exposure to stress) and contemporary (i.e. current sources of stress) factors, some children's arousal is always higher than others, making them more prone to severe tantrum's and meltdowns. In common language, they are highly strung. These are probably the most common children seen in a psychology practice. They would be less prone to severe tantrums and meltdown, as well as happier and better behaved children, if we could make them less highly strung; that is, if their arousal generally fluctuated in a lower range and further away from the threshold where a severe tantrum or meltdown occurs.

In my practice, and with my own children, I have found that one of the simplest and most effective methods for reducing children's arousal levels generally is to play soothing classical music quietly in their bedrooms all night, every night. The rationale for this comes from research into the so-called Mozart Effect. This research attributes to music a powerful role in promoting a state of calm readiness, whereupon we are more likely to perform at our best and less likely to feel overwhelmed by the challenges of the day. In simpler terms, playing soothing classical music quietly in the child's bedroom all night every night ensures that when they wake up they are not highly strung and, also, that it will take a lot more frustrations and other stressors than usual to unsettle them and precipitate a severe tantrum or meltdown.

Some children have difficulty processing and managing inputs through one or more of their senses. These children are usually identified by behaviour reported during a parental interview or the parent's responses to formal questionnaires. Sensory processing difficulties might be seen as being a bit like having poorly fitting shoes. We're not always consciously aware of the shoe rubbing, but at the end of the day we have a blister. Sensory processing difficulties are an irritant to your child's nervous system, ensuring that their nervous system is more highly aroused that it would otherwise be. In turn, children with sensory processing difficulties can be more prone to severe tantrums and meltdowns. I typically refer such children to the Occupational Therapist in my practice who specialises in providing parents and children with sensory activities they can readily do to reduce the level of irritation to their nervous system, thereby reducing their arousal levels generally and their proneness to severe tantrums and meltdowns.

Other general strategies for maintaining lower levels of arousal generally include maintaining consistent routines and expectations of your child's behaviour from day to day, and being accessible and empathic towards your child; particularly when they are in distress.

But what do I do when my child is having a severe tantrum or meltdown I hear you ask? Firstly, as far as humanly possible (it is difficult) try to stay calm (or, at least present a calm demeanour). If you are ranting and raving, this will only further increase the child's arousal and exacerbate their meltdown. It is also poor modelling of emotional control. If you are unable to maintain a calm demeanour, move away from your child. This is not ideal but the 'lesser of two evils', so to speak. If you can maintain a calm demeanour, be present and accessible to the child without further stimulating their arousal. Sit quietly in the same room with them. Drape a heavy blanket across their shoulders as weight is soothing to many children. Put on their favourite DVD, as this is associated with happy feelings. Play soothing music. Offer them a bath or a shower. If you do not add to their arousal levels the episode should be over with in less than fifteen minutes. If your child's severe tantrums and meltdowns persist for longer than this, or they are having them once a week or more, you should seek advice from your general medical practitioner or an appropriately qualified and experienced child development or mental health professional.

Finally, as I mentioned in Part One of this series, there is no known universally effective strategy for managing (that is, eliminating) severe tantrums and meltdowns. Nevertheless, it is my experience that if we better manage children's arousal levels generally and during a severe tantrum or meltdown, we can, at least, reduce their frequency, intensity and duration.

(Dislaimer: While it is anticipated that this article will prove to be informative for those who care for children, it is not a substitute for a full assessment and face-to-face support and guidance from an appropriately trained and experienced child development and mental health clinician. If your child is exhibiting severe and recurrent tantrums and meltdowns you should seek further advice about treatment options from your family medical practitioner).

Colby is a clinical psychologist with sixteen years experience working in clinical and forensic arenas, including child protection, juvenile offending and family law; the last nine years in his independent practice, Secure Start. Colby has extensive experience conducting assessments, preparing reports and appearing as an expert witness in South Australian and Commonwealth Courts. Colby has also established and directed student training clinics in child protection. Colby is the principal psychologist at Secure Start, a private psychology practice specialising in the provision of child and family psychotherapy services; particularly among children who have experienced complex developmental trauma. Colby is the author of eight journal articles and two internationally-published books; A Short Introduction to Attachment and Attachment Disorder and A Short Introduction to Promoting Resilience in Children. Colby can be contacted at colby@securestart.com.au. Visit Colby's website: http://www.securestart.com.au or Blogsite: http://colbypearce.wordpress.com

By Nicolas Breedloves

Playing in an outdoor environment is an important aspect of childhood and children must be encouraged to venture out into playgrounds and play on different equipment. This article will be helpful for you if you are looking to build your own special playground for your child.

Most of us would have fond memories of the countless hours spent by us in playgrounds during our days as a child. The unparalleled fun of playing in the open space and discovering the joys of various play equipment must be bequeathed onto our children as well. Thus children must be encouraged to frolic at the playground and try different play equipment housed in the playground.

Studies have indicated that the formative years of a child are very important and play an important role in shaping the personality and character of children. Also the self esteem of children is greatly enhanced by going out and interacting with other children and helps them to understand and bond with other children. They also learn to become part of a group and this contributes to cultivating friendships. Many children also learn to come out of their shells while playing with other children of their own age.

Though most playgrounds meant for children are usually well designed and maintained, there might still be instances of oversight on the part of the maintenance crew and an unruly sharp edge or ill maintained swing could result in a disastrous accident for your children. Also all types of children come to a public playground and it is difficult to filter the kind your children interact with. A good way to resolve these issues is to develop your own residential playground.

The open space in your backyard can be cleaned and cleared and designed to make way for a playground. Although mud surfaces were popular in playgrounds in olden times, modern playgrounds are generally made of rubber or plastic surfaces to minimize the instances of your child getting injured. Residential playground equipment is generally made of plastic which makes it easy to maintain and is available in a variety of attractive colors. Plastic equipment nullifies the probability of sharp or rusted edges and most equipment has molded and smooth edges which makes it safe for children. Gazebos, swing sets, swings and seesaws are preferred by children and can be easily installed in your backyard. Equipment made of plastic is light in weight and is portable and the location of the play sets can be changed to make the play area appear new and attractive to children from time to time.

Residential playgrounds also enable you to control access and can be visited only by children whom you have set up play dates for your children with.

The writer of this article is a playground consultant with Playground Equipment, a leading supplier of children playground equipment and playground accessories.

By Nicolas Breedloves

Children love playgrounds. They like to run around have fun with the various equipment as well as make new friends there. Ironically, the place that brings such happiness to kids is also responsible for the highest number of kids' injuries.

Center for Disease and Prevention has revealed that a total of 156,000 children reach hospital emergency rooms to be treated for injuries suffered on public playgrounds. This is the yearly figure of under age 14 children that are hurt all across the United States while playing in playgrounds.

Now, there are different types of playground injuries. A child can suffer from cuts, bumps, bruises, fractures, concussions and even life-threatening injuries like strangulation. The Center for Disease and Prevention quotes that of the total injuries, approximately 45% are severe. By severe injuries we are referring to:

* Amputations
* Concussions
* Dislocations
* Fractures
* Internal injuries

Majority of these injuries are caused due to accidents on the playground equipment like swings and slides. Children can fall or slip from playground equipment, lose their grip or their balance when they are playing on bars, swings, slides, merry-go-rounds, and seesaws. Slides are the leading cause of accidents as many times the child's leg gets stuck and can get twisted. Children also get hit from equipment that other kids are playing on. For instance they may walk in line of another child swinging. Or another child may push them in a fight and they may fall against any equipment's edge and get hurt.

Now that you know how a child may get hurt on a playground, let us throw some light on how to prevent playground injuries. Here are the major potential play area hazards to keep a watch on:

Install the right equipment - By right equipment, we mean that the equipment must be age appropriate and of good quality ensuring child safety. The playground must have different equipment for the various ages. This way the younger 6 year old will not get hurt on a monkey bar made for 12 year olds. The equipment has to be according to age and skill level. The equipment must be manufactured to meet the standard quality and durability standards. It must be safe with no corners, edges, screws, or catches to hurt children, or where the kids' clothing might get stuck.

Ensure that the playground has safe surfaces- You must never have hard and unsafe surface like asphalt, concrete; dirt and grass below various playground equipment. These hard surfaces will not cushion the kids' falls and they will hurt themselves badly. So you must have surfaces such as pea gravel, sand, wood chips or rubber mulch installed in the playground. These surfaces are soft yet sturdy and absorb the impact of a child's fall, so that there are lesser chances of an injury.

Always perform regular playground maintenance - Get rid of broken or weakened equipment as it is a source of potential disaster. So say no to broken swing seats or teeter-totters. Always buy playgrounds for sale from reputed manufacturers for long lasting and durable playgrounds.

Teach kids to protect themselves- You must tell children they must not push, shove or fight on any playground equipment. Most importantly tell them to dress up in clothes without hoods, strings (to avoid choking), and wear rubber soled shoes. Last but not the least teach them to never come in the way of a moving swing.