Is it worth voicing my concern over safety?

My mum was very over-protective. Maybe because I was a ‘war baby’. As a result I didn’t get much experience of playing out with the other children, and was shy and awkward socially as a result.
My five were watched over until about the age of four, then slowly allowed more freedom. Toddlers were taught how to climb backwards down the stairs, etc. They grew up in the days when children spent most of the day playing out, and learned how to assess risks. Apart from a few minor accidents they coped well.
Now we mostly seem to live in a time of over-protected children, who are never allowed out of their parents sight, and have no chance to be adventurous. I find this very sad.
Allowing such young children to play in dark wet conditions isn’t very sensible, but GP have to learn to step back and keep quiet.

When my DGC were little I was over cautious when in my care. When they were with their parents it was up to them to look after them, I never said anything, even if just the mention of a particular activity would make me panic straight away!

my parents farmed - we were brought up surrounded by danger - climbing haystacks, playing hide and seek in the potato barn - riding ponies for miles and hours alone - the only break was my sister's arm when she fell off the sofa.
I was very proud of my DD who, when she found her stark naked 4yr old at the top of an apple tree, found time to take a photo before coaxing him back down. Having said that, when I was in charge and found my 2yr old GD at the top of a metal five bar gate with concrete underneath, I was very very worried and just quietly praised her for being so clever and then taught her how to come down safely - my heart was really in my mouth -but she shot up that gate so quickly when I was looking the other way!!

Much more difficult with a daughter-in-law than with a daughter’s children.

My daughter was a fabulous climber, fearless. And I just let her get on with it. She was great at working out how to get up and where to put her feet to get down. Then she spent an afternoon with Grandma in our local park when she was about 2. The big slide didn’t have steps, she had to climb up a bit of a frame - which she’d been doing for almost a year with no problems. But Grandma was scared of her doing this and her reaction to my daughter’s climbing knocked her confidence way more than any bumps and bruises did.

If I reflect back we did much worse, and our park equipment was quite dangerous really. I know your grandchildren are very young and as a mum the antenna never has a day off. I can remember sliding down the stairs on a board with a mound of teddies as a buffer, mum didn’t know about this.

I agree Oopsadaisy1.
I worry more about my g/children than i did about my sons when they were little.
It`s what g/parents do best.

Ps and I do remember walking away when DGS was allowed on the dodgems as I was too anxious to watch!
He was fine, they're not allowed to be as rough these days.

I think someone gave me a hanky to mop up the blood, nadateturbe but I can't remember if I rescued the teeth for the tooth fairy.

Oh Callistemon! That sounds awful. I still can't bear to think about my son's accident.
I must tell my daughter never to let my GC on dodgems

Nope. Whilst the rearing of your GC is of much concern it is really none of your business unless they were being in some way abused. Guess you just have to zip it like many of us.

yes happysexagenarian when they shout 'look granny, look at me' pleased as punch with their achievement I'm so pleased for them. And they are delighted to tell their mum all about it.

dodgems

Autocorrect doesn't like dodgems

At least they would have been his first teeth

I can still remember knocking out my two front teeth (first teeth, thank goodness) when I was six on the Dodgers at the fair when someone bashed their car into mine.

I expect they have to wear helmets, elbow protectors and teeth guards these days.

I just remembered, my son fell in the school playground when he was only four and knocked two front teeth out. He was in hospital overnight. Perhaps this has caused me to be anxious.

Your Son is equally responsible....Sometimes it's not what you say but how you say it

Marthjolly1 Be proud of them too. The confidence they're gaining from 'risky' physical play will also help them in other aspects of their growth and development. Most playground equipment now have soft surfaces beneath them. And their smiles of achievement when they reach the top will be worth every moment of worry.

One of my DILs hovers around her little ones ready to intercept any potential accidents. They're not allowed to climb or jump from things, all the hard furniture has soft corner protectors on them! If one of them is hurt, even slightly, she makes a big fuss of them which only seems to make them cry even more. I have watched my GC hurtling down our garden towards the stone steps and held my breath hoping they'll stop in time. If it looks like they won't I yell their name and "STOP!!" They do. They have learned from that, but it doesn't spoil their fun.

When our boys were young I expected them to take tumbles, risks, and get hurt occasionally - they were boys after all! I simply picked them up, brushed them off, rubbed or kissed the hurt better and told them to be more careful next time. They seemed to learn from that and never suffered any serious injuries. But I do recall my Mum complaining I wasn't careful enough with them, so perhaps it's an age thing! I think we should try to teach children to avoid serious accidents but not over-protect them, they learn better from personal experience than being restricted or mollycoddled.

Oh dear. I'm now rethinking the wisdom of encouraging my small GC to climb to the top of the various equipments in different parks I take them to when they are in my care. But then their mum tells me how proud she is that they are growning with much confidence.

I was lucky enough to have a pony when was youn6, I went riding around North Yorkshire, no mobile phones then,no-one knew where I was. When my grandchildren were young I went to a " family day" at their school, ,climbing frame in the playground, a mother was watching her two boys of about 5 or 6, every time they tried to go a bit higher up she was saying " dangerous dangerous!" Children have falls, that's how they learn, my DD broke her arm falling from the top bunk when she was three, I learnt years later that she and her older brother had been playing a silly game up there!

Sorry to mention the War, but as someone who was a virtually
unsupervised child in those days we did all sorts of daring things. And survived.
My children were also encouraged to be adventurous, and encouraged theirs too. Sadly we were never close enough geographically to watch our grandchildren growing up as they spread their wings too far.
So Marj, enjoy watching your grandchildren grow, and their parents learning their new roles. They will change too.
I just want to add 2 areas which need to be educated for with older children - safety in the sea, and when mountain walking. You can't just let them loose there without education.

nadateturbe

I seem to be in a minority here but I'm very nervous with children. A boy in our street died in the local river. A friend broke her arm on the slide on a dry sunny day! Accidents do happen.

I think we have to watch with gritted teeth, though. Yes, I have seen accidents happen, some nasty, but we have to strike a balance between letting them explore their capabilities and wrapping them in cotton wool and making them nervous of trying anything.
I am naturally anxious about their safety but try to be sensible about it.

They are having their freedom curtailed enough as it is at the moment.

You are not the first nor will you be the last who has to bite ones tongue when observering what might/could happen.I am on your side as many a gran will also be. They are your sons children/IS their fathe and allowed the last word what ever your own views on parenting.

I wouldn't have let my children play on slippery equipment even in daylight, especially so young
Oh dear, I must be a bad granny.

We took our DGC to a great play park in Bristol , unfortunately it started raining but they wanted to go on the equipment.
My heart was in my mouth but the worst they got was soaking wet.
My own DC managed to have accidents in playgrounds even when it was dry and sunny.

anno trying to get out of a maths test!
I have a very clear memory of the winter I started school. I would have been 5 years old.
There was a slide in the playground & I went on it with some other children.
Unknown to me, sliding had been forbidden. A teacher came & rounded us up & we had to wait outside the headmistress’ door for justice to be meted out.
When she came out, I had to lift my skirt so she could administer a sharp slap on my thigh ?