Category: Parenting

A playground is an important part of a child’s life. When we think of a playground, we imagine one that’s packed with kids of different shapes and sizes as well as abilities and physical activity levels. To handle such a broad user base, playgrounds need to introduce appropriate play structures that attract and engage children with different capabilities.

Children of different ages have vastly diverse physical, cognitive, and social skills. As you may imagine, preschoolers will need very different playground equipment than preteens. The guidelines for age-appropriate play equipment are clearly stated in the Consumer Product Safety Commission‘s Handbook on Public Playground Safety. The idea behind separate play equipment is to make the environment more secure, entertaining and stimulating.

What is an Age-Appropriate Playground?

The style of play kids enjoy evolves as they get older. Age-appropriate play activities allow children to better express and enjoy themselves. It also encourages them to push and test their bounds. On the other hand, when children are forced to play with equipment that may be too complex for them, it can result in injuries.

Specialized play equipment providers need to find the perfect balance between fun and safe. There are several factors to consider while selecting appropriate play sets for children of different ages, such as the child’s:

• Size
• Physical ability
• Auditory system
• Mental acuity
• Stimulation of senses
• Balance
• Spatial orientation
• Gustatory system
• Olfactory system
• Proprioceptive development

Benefits of Age-Appropriate Play

By engaging kids of different ages and abilities, age-appropriate playground equipment offer the following benefits:

Physical Health

The NHS recommends that children should have at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily to build their muscles and bones. Thus, children must visit the playground daily and use playground equipment to enhance their fitness and strength. Doing so keeps kids healthy and prevents them from falling sick often.

Challenge

Fear of a complicated piece of equipment may cause children to abandon it, whereas one that provides no challenge becomes less engaging and is finally discarded. It is, therefore, critical to include age-appropriate playground equipment to keep different children interested, while also allowing them to develop their cognitive abilities.

Safety

Playgrounds should be enjoyable, and age-appropriate equipment is crucial for keeping children happy and engaged. A safe playground takes into account the height of the equipment for each child.  What is suitable for a 12-year-old may not be safe for a 2-year-old. Seating and standing heights differ for toddlers, pre-toddlers, and school-age children.

Appropriate Playground Equipment by Age Group

When selecting a play structure, one crucial factor is the age range of the children enjoying the equipment. The three age groups for which gear is typically designed are:

6 – 23 Months

Choose equipment that helps toddlers to exercise their new physical independence while they strive to explore their immediate environment with their senses. When picking material, ensure it is lightweight, low to the ground, and within their grasp. The exteriors should be soft, either foam or rubber wrapped. It is important to select equipment that allows them to crawl or move about comfortably.

Suitable playground equipment for children in this age group are:

• Ramps
• Swings with bucket seats
• Slides of low height
• Low crawl tunnels

2 – 5 Years

This preschool-level group is eager to attend and enjoy the play equipment. At this age, children attempt to imitate their elders. The play equipment should be physically challenging, while also being safe in height. Children in this age range begin to learn about playing in social groups. Choose play equipment that will encourage their creativity, while also strengthening their body. Sliding and climbing are popular activities among children in this age group.

Suitable playground equipment for children in this age group are:

• Climbing structures
• Playhouse
• Spring riders
• Ramps

5 – 12 Years

The school-age children are energetic and vibrant. They like more complicated play that provides mental and physical challenges to keep them engaged. Children in the group have learned social skills and are honing their gross and motor abilities, allowing them to incorporate various play equipment into enjoyable activities.

Suitable playground equipment for children in this age group are:

• Spinners
• Merry-go-rounds
• Stairways
• Vertical sliding poles

A playground is an excellent area for children to learn and develop fundamental skills. For their overall development and playground safety, age-appropriate equipment is a must. In addition, the age group of the users should be explicitly stated in the play areas, as the proper equipment is critical in helping children progress physically, cognitively, and socially.

Image Source: https://pinterest.com/pin/562175965956621313/

Related Resources:

Ten tips for child safety at home and they grow and play.
Read about age appropriate toddler tables and chairs.

Parents always want what’s best for their children, and that includes ensuring they get a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to all sorts of problems for kids, including poor performance in school and trouble focusing. In this article, we will discuss some tips that can help your kids get the sleep they need.

Follow these guidelines and your children will be sleeping like babies in no time!

A consistent bedtime routine

One of the most important things you can do to help your children sleep better at night is to establish a bedtime routine. A consistent bedtime routine will signal to your kids that it’s time to wind down and go to sleep. Bedtime routines can vary from family to family, but should generally include some calming activities such as reading or taking a bath.

For example, you might have a bedtime routine that looks something like this:

• Give your child a bath
• Put on pajamas
• Brush teeth
• Read a story
• Turn off the lights and say goodnight

If you can stick to this same routine every night, your children will start to associate certain activities with sleep and will be more likely to fall asleep quickly.

Try a sound machine

If your kids are struggling to fall asleep, a sound machine can be a godsend. The white noise from a sound machine can help to drown out any outside noise that might be keeping your child awake. There are all sorts of different sound machines available on the market, so find one that fits your needs and budget. On the other hand, you can also try sound-blocking earplugs that may help even more with improving sleep quality right away. The important thing is to find something that works for your family. Once you have found a method that appears to work from the beginning, you should stick to it.

Get them moving during the day

It might seem counterintuitive, but one of the best things you can do to help your kids get sleep is to make sure they get plenty of exercise during the day. Exercise will help to tire them out and make it easier for them to fall asleep at night. Just make sure that you don’t allow them to exercise too close to bedtime, as this can have the opposite effect and make it harder for them to fall asleep.

Additionally, when your kids are getting their exercise during the day, make sure they are getting some exposure to natural sunlight. This will help to regulate their internal clocks and make it easier for them to fall asleep when it’s time for bed.

Creating a peaceful sleep environment

Another important factor in getting your kids to sleep well at night is to create a comfortable sleep environment. This means making sure the room is dark and quiet and that the bed is comfortable. If your child’s room is too bright or noisy, try using blackout curtains or a white noise machine to help them sleep. For a child with a restless mind, a weighted blanket can also be helpful in promoting relaxation.

It is a well-known notion that children who are not comfortable will wake up more frequently during the night. Keep the room cool; too much or no heat may also disrupt sleep. The bottom line is that you want your kid to feel as comfy as possible when they’re attempting to nod off.

Invest In A Quality Bed

In addition to creating a peaceful sleep environment, investing in a quality bed is also crucial. A good mattress and pillow that are suitable for your child’s age and size will make all the difference in their sleep quality.

Make sure to involve your child in the process of selecting the right bed, so they feel comfortable and excited about it. If you have two children sharing a room, investing in a bunk bed for kids can also be a great option. It can allow them to have their own space while still being in the same room. Bunk beds come in various styles and designs, making it easy to find one that fits your child’s interests and personality.

Limit screen time before bed

It’s important to limit your child’s screen time before bed. This means no TV, computers, or phones in the hour leading up to sleep. The blue light from screens can disrupt the body’s natural sleep cycle, making it harder for kids to fall asleep. If you are struggling to get your child to put down their devices, try setting a rule that all screens must be turned off at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Otherwise, consider investing in a pair of blue-light-blocking glasses that can help to reduce the effects of screen time on sleep.

Encourage them to sleep on their back

One of the best things you can do for your child’s sleep is to encourage them to sleep on their back. This position allows the head, neck, and spine to rest in a neutral position and can help to prevent some common problems like ear infections, headaches, and even SIDS. If your child is used to sleeping in another position, it might take some time to adjust, but it’s worth it for the long-term health benefits.

It may be difficult to get your kids to sleep, but it’s essential for their health and development. You can assist your children to obtain the excellent rest they require to flourish by following the recommendations in this article.

Teaching children to develop a healthy and responsible relationship toward money management is up to the parent. Experts believe children should learn about how money works as early as five. Learning how to spend wisely is equally important as staying safe with money. That includes avoiding pitfalls that lead to thefts, overspending, and other issues.

This guide focuses on how to teach kids to stay safe with money. Here are the steps to help your child understand how the spending works at any age!

Teach Them Where Our Money Comes from

It all begins by underlying that nobody gets an endless supply of money. Children should understand the sources of money. For them, it could be a birthday gift or pocket money they receive from parents. Doing chores and helping around the house is another way for them to earn cash.

The next step is explaining how adults get the money they give to kids. Explain how you go to work every day to earn cash. And if they ask about grandparents, point out they’ve worked for decades and deserved a pension.

Spending Wisely – Making Most Out of Your Money

Teaching children about the value of money what they buy with it for themselves is imperative for any parent. You can come up with a list of chores your kid could do to earn cash. A simple job should be worth $1, but demanding tasks that last hours might be paid $10 or more. They’ll realize it takes effort to earn bigger sums, so they’ll pay more attention to how they spend them.

And while discussing spending the money wisely, point out the “needs versus wants.” Your kid should get limited weekly (or monthly) pocket money. Tell them they shouldn’t spend all the money at once. They should have enough for snacks, playing with friends, etc. If your child goes over the limit, don’t just give them extra money. Use the opportunity to teach them about the loaning concept. Give them a small amount, which will ensure to cover spending on their “needs.” But do that with the condition of them returning that cash from the next pocket money.

Teach Them About the Potential Dangers

Money management isn’t only about spending wisely. It’s about staying safe and avoiding financially-related threats. These could be:

• Friends who ask for a loan but don’t plan to return the money. Your children should avoid loaning anything they consider “a big sum.” Also, if their friend doesn’t repay the loan once, they shouldn’t give them any money anymore.
• The importance of keeping their money in a safe place. Cash shouldn’t be out in the open for everyone to see. It’s better if their money is on a card, and you can find children’s debit cards offered by some banks.
• Keeping passwords and PINs safe. That includes not sharing them with anyone and only logging into accounts on secure networks. Many providers allow locking cards easily if there’s a suspicion of a breach.

Teach Them Online Shopping

Online shopping is a convenient way to order things you need to arrive at your doorstep. It’s a safer way for children to shop since they don’t have to carry cash to the store. Online shopping could save money by allowing price comparison and finding the best offer.

Children should understand they should only buy from legit sites. They should look for encryption certificates, such as SSL. Alternatively, they can stick to Amazon, eBay, or other reputable platforms. If they have any suspicions about the site, children should ask you to check before proceeding with the purchase.

Teach Them Not to Keep Cards Somewhere Obvious

A huge part of money safety is keeping your cash and cards in a secure place. If your child leaves them somewhere obvious, it makes it easier for potential thieves. That’s why they need a secure wallet. And there’s no better way to protect your child’s cards than using an RFID-blocking wallet.

RFID or radio frequency identification enables reading info from credit cards equipped with this technology. It’s how you pay in stores, but that makes you vulnerable to wireless thefts. Thieves that have illegal RFID readers could download your card info and create a copy used to spend your funds.

RFID wallets are critical protection against these thefts. They block these frequencies and ensure no one can read your card while it’s stored in the wallet. That makes them essential for children and adults to use cards. And on top of that, it’s a beautiful accessory!

Check Spending Regularly

If your child has a spending card connected to your account, you should check the balance regularly. It’ll ensure you stay in touch with how they spend the money. It helps to identify every payment because staying in the loop shows whether your child is managing their cash responsibly. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, you can block the card until you resolve the matter.

Conclusion

Teaching your children about staying safe with money is a process. It begins by playing pretend shops when they are little and proceeds to help them manage pocket money later. Learning about money management early is the jumpstart your child will appreciate once they get older. It’ll be less likely they’ll enter cash problems, so your effort would be worth it!

Author Bio
Mariam Simmons is a fashion enthusiast and Content Manager at Alpine Swiss. She loves traveling to the world’s top stylish destinations and gets inspired to create helpful fashion and lifestyle guides. With over a decade of writing experience, her main goal in creating content is to ensure readers learn something useful and provide value instead of noise.

There are a multitude of effective substance abuse prevention interventions. Generally, these interventions involve family, school, and community.   Young children need to begin knowing about the dangers of drugs. Like anything else when educating kids, it should be fun, age-appropriate, clear, and concise.

Just like learning the ABCs when they were younger, there are consequences when a child does is not properly educated; they struggle to read and write.

As they age, they also learn other things and do dangerous things carefully, teaching them about consequences and responsibility.

Overall, it is the responsibility of parents to keep things light early on but begin to set boundaries, rules, and expectations, talk about specific dangers and immediate consequences and emphasize responsibility.

Here are four practical tips for educating your child about drugs.

One—Keep Things Age Appropriate, Especially for Toddlers

Many parents ask if they can lighten a heavy topic for younger children. Like anything else a child learns in life, it is about relating to them in a way they understand.

For example, 2 to 4-year-old children begin to learn about healthy food choices, vitamins, exercise, etc. Yet, they are also taught not to accept things from people who are not their parents unless they have permission.

Kids become curious about what their parents do, such as eating, drinking, or taking medications.

When your child becomes curious about these things, you may tell them you are taking medications to be healthy. At the same time, they are taking their vitamins to stay healthy and fit. You would even go as far as to tell them they would only take these things when their parent gives it to them.

Drug Education for Toddlers—Suggestions for Parents

• Toddlers can learn about healthy choices and what they can take and cannot take.
• Encourage them to care for themselves, teaching self control so they make healthy choices.
• Point out harmful chemicals and help them avoid dangerous substances.
• Keep medications locked in the medicine cabinet, and explain to them the dangers.
• Help them understand the difference between things that can hurt them and things that keep them healthy.

Two—Be Clear and Concise About Rules and Reasoning

There is no reasoning with a toddler, yet when children reach elementary age, they begin to discover things like their individuality and strong bonds with their parents and explore and discover everything new.

For example, children at this age begin to pay attention to their parent’s actions. In most households, a child will see an adult drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, cannabis, or take medication. Unfortunately, there are also circumstances where children see their parents using illicit drugs.

As a parent, you may explain to them that adults make decisions that are not always safe or healthy. Moreover, because an adult is using something like alcohol, tobacco, or medication, it does not make it safe for a child to use as you are still developing, and it could damage your development.

Finally, make a definitive rule about not smoking, drinking, or taking any medicine their parent does not give them. Explain to them that drugs and alcohol are dangerous physically and mentally, and underage drinking and tobacco use is illegal.

Drug Education for Elementary School Children—Suggestions for Parents

• Speak to your kids about the things they see on social media, television, or the movies. In addition, they may overhear something at school. Encourage them to speak about it and speak about how they feel.

• Discussions should be light and focused on the here and now. Anything past what is currently happening does not necessarily register with children at this age.

• Discuss differences between medicinal and illegal use, especially with narcotic prescription drugs or any medication found in the house. This is especially important with alcohol and cannabis.

• Be mindful of the message you are sending your children. Tobacco, vaping, and alcohol products are seen by most children early in life. Be clear with them these substances are harmful.

• Parents should always know who their child’s friends are and meet their parents.

• Solve problems with children together, which helps them find long-lasting solutions. Children need an opportunity to build confidence and resilience by making choices.

• Research innovative new ways of fighting substance exposure and substance abuse, such as the role of nutrition in substance use disorder prevention.

Three—Speak About Immediate Consequences, Not Just Punishment

Preteens and teens are just trying to fit into a world they know nothing about and are discovering. At one point, it used to be their friend’s opinions had the most influence on them. Unfortunately, social media now provides unwanted far-reaching, and often destructive views.

Preteens and teens are less likely to consider long-term consequences when making decisions. The long-lasting impact of decisions does not necessarily sink in until they are older, which makes threatening punishment pretty useless.

It is a good idea to speak about immediate consequences. When discussing the dangers of drugs and alcohol, be sure to relate it to things they care about at that age.

For example, kids at this will come across other teens selling drugs at school. Yet, they are likely hesitant to mention something. Other parents are speaking about it, which means you should make conversation and ask them if they want to talk about it.

Do not lecture or scold the child, but be inquisitive about how they feel. They may have questions about drugs and why kids their age are using them. They may also have questions about if drugs are dangerous. Answer everything honestly and even related to your experience; provide real-life examples.

Additionally, explain to them how drugs and alcohol would impact their life. For example, it would become difficult to achieve academic or athletic success; it may affect their personal hygiene or overall appearance.

Drug Education for Preteens and Teens—Suggestions for Parents

Heaven forbid you will ever need to seek teen drug treatment for your child.  Education about the consequences of drug use is the first step to prevention.

• Make sure they know the consequences of breaking rules are enforced. Overall, it is about setting boundaries early on.
• Maintain positive comments, especially during puberty. Focus on them improving their skills and learning from defeat and failure to become better.
• Help them understand the fantasy world of social media and how different it is from the real world.
• Make it clear you disapprove of all alcohol, vaping, tobacco, and drug use. Create opportunities to discuss your feelings about this.
• Let your child in on all things you find wonderful about them.
• Show interest in and discuss your child’s daily ups and downs.

Four—Explain Addiction and Emphasize Responsibility

Every child should understand addiction. Emphasize the difficulty of quitting using a substance after a person has started. Explain how some individuals cannot stop using drugs or alcohol, which leads to tragic consequences.

It is inevitable that when they reach legal age, they may likely try alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, vaping, or experiment with illegal drugs. Maintaining rules and expectations is vital, especially if they live with you. Emphasize responsibility and remind them of substance abuse, smoking, and drinking dangers.

Online Tips and Resources for Parents

SAMHSA, Parent and Caregiver Resources—Extensive information is provided, which includes fact sheets and brochures. It is easy to access and covers children, preteens, and teens.

KidsHealth in the Classroom – Free information for educators to help kids understand the dangers of drugs. They have resources from PreK through 12^th grade with age-appropriate links and activities.

Tips for Drug Safety Online – Tips for parents to help mitigate the risk associated with online activity. This resource focuses specifically on protecting teens from online drug dealers

One Choice is part of the Institute for Behavior and Health—Parents have access to informative tips and tools and access to other organizations.

Drug Prevention Resources is a Texas-based non-profit organization—That offers free downloadable tools for parents, teachers, and community members.

Foundation for a Drug-Free World—This organization provides extensive free tools and programs, online courses, and other resources for parents and anyone searching for drug education.

If you feel like you are in over your head, don’t be afraid to seek professional help, such as a child psychologist or therapist.

In Conclusion

Do not stop talking. When it comes to the health and safety of your family, this should be an ongoing discussion. It is not a one-and-done conversation. Yet, it does not have to be confrontational or a lecture. Check in frequently, keeps it light, and make sure they understand.

It is simply learning the alphabet one letter at a time. Once they understand the first letter, they move on to the next. Different methods are used to accomplish this, yet the result is the same. Gradually, it comes together and begins to make sense and is now part of everyday life.

About the author
Marcel Gemme has been helping people struggling with substance abuse for over 20 years. He started as an intake counselor for a drug rehabilitation center in 2000. With drug and alcohol problems constantly increasing, he utilized his website, Addicted.org, and community outreach to spread awareness. His primary focus is threefold: education, prevention, and rehabilitation.