Parents/Carers Information

• The Make it safe sections of the family friendly move to improve activities are provided as a guide to help parents/carers and we hope you will find them useful.
• Parents/carers are usually instinctively aware of how to supervise safe activity for their children and much of our guidance is simply about applying common sense and asking key questions.
• We cannot possibly list all the risks that you may need to consider when you are supervising activity for your children and every situation will be different. As a guide only of the type of things you may wish to think about, we have listed some considerations below.
• The responsibility is always with each parent/carer to ensure any activity is safe for the participants involved and the health and wellbeing of each child is always considered.
• If parent/carers consider that an activity cannot be made safe and appropriate for a particular child or children or for particular circumstances that may arise then the activity should not go ahead and a different activity should be chosen.

Some general considerations when supervising physical activity for your children:

Consider space

• Is the space large enough?
• Is the surface suitable for the activity you want to do?

Some ideas: check for any objects, debris, litter, furniture, fixtures or obstructions that could be a hazard; check that the ground is an even surface that doesn’t have bumps or holes that could cause trips and falls; check for any slip hazards; do you need to advise children to be careful because the surface is hard? Will the surface affect the type of equipment you can use?

• Check the area is on one level and there isn’t anything the children might fall off.
• Is there anything in the vicinity they could collide with or that could break off or fall on them?

Consider movement

• Is the children’s speed too fast? Start slowly and build up gradually. Suggest movement types that allow the speed to be more controlled e.g. walking, marching, skipping, jogging, etc
• Is the movement too acrobatic for the age/ability of the child? Don’t let them attempt anything that could put them at risk. Pay special attention to the safety of their head, neck, spine, joints, vital organs, etc) during any movement.
• When jumping or hopping remind children to bend their knees when they land to absorb the force.
• Is too much force being used? Is the movement suitable for the strength/ability of each child? Bear in mind that in all age groups, all children develop at different rates to others. Consider what is suitable for each individual to cope with regardless of what others of a similar age and size can achieve.

Consider equipment

We recommend that wherever possible you always use equipment in an activity that has been designed for that purpose.

We understand that some families may not have immediate access to sports or play equipment but this need not stop you from organising physical activities for your children with some improvised equipment. In our move to improve activities we have provided some ideas in the Make your equipment suitable sections.

There are also plenty of activities that don’t require any equipment at all. However if you are in any doubt as to whether something is safe or appropriate then don’t use it – if in doubt, leave it out.

Some points to consider:

• Is the equipment you are using in the activity safe for that purpose?

Some ideas:

Depending on how it is being used, including a plastic bottle as a piece of improvised equipment in an activity might be ok in some circumstances but using a glass bottle wouldn’t be in any circumstances;

A sheet of paper that is scrunched up into a small ball and secured with sticky tape can be used as an object to throw or catch, but if it is used as a football it could be flattened as it is kicked and trodden on, and potentially be a slip hazard.

• Is the equipment in a good condition for use? Look at each piece of equipment you want to use and consider if it is safe for what you intend to do with it.

Some ideas: are there sharp edges? could it break? it is too heavy/light? is it too hard? is it too bulky/large/small? etc

• Are the children using the equipment responsibly?
• Certain things when placed on certain surfaces can cause a slip hazard (e.g. a piece of cardboard on a polished floor).
• If in doubt, leave it out.

Consider others

• Prevent collisions by managing the way children move together.

Some ideas: create ‘lanes’, take turns in a relay. Ask the children what they can do to avoid collisions e.g. look around them at all times, control their speed and direction and stop moving when necessary

• Does everyone in the activity area have suitable space for what they need to do? The activity space should be free of anyone not participating and whether you are at home or in a public space there should be no risk that anyone else will move through the activity area e.g. if you are in a park then be considerate and ensure the area you are using is well away from others, stop the activity or move it to somewhere else if there is a risk.

Consider health and wellbeing

• The health of your child is of paramount importance, regular daily exercise is proven to be a fundamental part of healthy development and in most cases our family friendly move to improve activities should be suitable exercise. If for any reason at any time before, during or after physical activity, you have any concerns for your child’s health then you must seek advice from a health professional.
• If your child has any underlying medical conditions then you will need to consider that when they take part in physical activity. If for any reason at any time before, during or after physical activity, you have any concerns for your child’s health then you must seek advice from a health professional.