About a year ago, our 9 year old son Alex and I went to have a "coffee" at "Tim's". The first blanket of snow had just hit the ground and the afternoon was fresh and bright. As we stood in line to get our coffee and donuts, Alex looked up at me and commented how he was glad that the snow is finally here. "Why is that?" I asked. "So when the kids at the school fall from the playground equipment, they'll have a soft landing!" was Alex's reply. I was taken by Alex's response not only because he was in tune to playground hazards but because it seems he has been listening to what his Dad, "Mr. Safety Man" has been saying about preventing injuries.
Shortly after that discussion it occurred to me that as parents and grandparents, it is of utmost importance that we provide a good injury prevention role model for our children. They watch us. They emulate us. As a parent or grandparent are you doing all you can to pattern the appropriate injury prevention behaviour that our children and youth are observing? Think about it . . . providing a good example could be instrumental in preventing a serious injury to a young family member that you love dearly. If not for yourself, think about being an injury prevention advocate for the sake of your children or grandchildren.
October 17 2008
Oct 22, 2008 at 2:50 PM Hi Gord,
Your story reminds me of how we can and do influence our children on the ways of safety.
The Town of White City recently was under a boil water advisory. It was a planned one, due to some maintenance with the water plant. I filled a five gallon water jug in preparation for the two-day advisory.
I explained to both my children, and my wife, that we are to drink water from the water jug. It was on the second day of the advisory that I was filling a glass of water from the refrigerator water spout, when my son, quite loudly, told me that I wasnt supposed to drink from the refrigerator. I asked him why, and he told me because the water wasn't boiled.
I was proud of him for one, remembering about not drinking water from the tap, and two, reminding me of the safety I had taught him.
I guess sometimes they do hear what we tell them!
Tim Kalynchuk
Youth Coordinator, Prevention
WCB
Oct 24, 2008 at 9:48 AM The power of parents! You do have more control than you think- but your stories reminded me of how other adults with influence in your child's life need to be example-setters too.
I'm a young adult who enjoys coaching. I work mostly with girls, aged 12-15. From time to time, I'm surprised at how much they listen to what I say. For example, a couple times some of them have repeated my opinion as their own on something like a music video. (We don't have these conversations in a practice setting, so I think they pick them up when I'm talking to another coach.)
Safety isn't something that is top of mind for me. But I have slowly become more aware. To be honest, when I was a kid, I never wore a bike helmet and none of my friends seemed to either.
I now own and wear a bike helmet. But one time, I couldn't find it and since I was in a rush, I left without it. I felt guilty but it was a short ride so I figured I'd get away with it. I arrived at the school safe and sound but was totally unprepared for what came next.
Here one of my players was getting dropped off at the same time that I was arriving... she had seen me drive up helmet-less and promptly started questioning me about my helmet. Did I even have one? Where was it? It seemed that she was also questioning herself and contemplating whether she should always wear a helmet. I felt horrible. Those guilty feelings returned but this time they were worse as I realized that as an adult with influence in her life she sees me outside of the sport setting and I'm an example there too whether I like it or not.
I pointed out how I was in the wrong and should have not rode my bike that day. I ended up feeling better at the end of our conversation but that was only because she actually 'tsked' at me and said "I expect better coach!" (A line that I use when I'm disappointed in the team's performance.)
There was a lot of teaching that day- but it was the coach who was doing the learning!