Fern Michonski / Fern’s Music
Pre-School Music Education Expert: The children’s advocate for love, learning and a healthy lifestyle.
February 11, 2015—Should sledding be banned? 
I was listening to the news the other day and heard that some towns in our country have decided to ban all sledding due to safety issues and the threat of lawsuits from parents. I am amazed at this and simply had to weigh in on this issue.
We have an obesity crisis in this country. One of the problems contributing to this is a lack of exercise in the lives of many children and adults. Obviously there are other contributing factors, but for today I am focusing this blog on exercise and responsibility.
Winter is a beautiful season for children to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and use their creativity while enjoying the snow. Here are three reasons why I think sledding is a key to health:
- Getting dressed up in warm clothing, boots, hats and mittens and spending time outdoors in winter is excellent for the health of our children. Breathing the crisp air helps to keep our children from catching all sorts of viruses while being cooped up inside day after day through the winter months.
- The snow offers endless creative opportunities for children to design snow houses, snowmen and dig snow tunnels.
- Sliding provides fabulous exercise and the children don’t even realize it! They have so much fun sliding down the hill that running back up doesn’t bother them at all.
I feel the bottom line to this debate is really NOT about banning sledding. It is about parents taking responsibility for the safety of their children. Parents need to take time out of their busy lives and go outside with their kids. They should be held accountable for checking out where their children are sliding. Perhaps the answer is to put up a sign stating “Sliding only allowed with an adult and slide at your own risk.” If children could only go sliding with an adult, it would give parents an incentive to bond with their children and share in the winter fun. It would also force parents to know exactly where their children are playing.
Children need attention and they need guidance. They are not going to stop and think about the end of the ride down the hill. They are kids. Parents on the other hand, certainly ought to know enough to check out the area before they allow their children to roar in delight down a dangerous hill, ending in a disaster at the bottom.
Let’s share in the winter fun, have the adults be more responsible, and let the kids be kids.
Happy sledding everyone!