Do I say something?

[B00]

I got The Phone Call today at work...you know, the one that sends your heart plummeting to your boots....from school, the one that starts "don't panic but..."

Anyhoo, Mini Boo went flying and landed on her face whilst playing on a scooter during her during her dinner break. I went tearing down there to find her feeling extremely sorry for herself, with a grazed elbow and knee, and her two front top teeth wobbling and bleeding like mad. I was mortified and spent half hour cuddling and holding an ice pack to her mouth. She then decided she was well enough to go back into school- she didn't want to go home. So off she was shunted and I went back to. As im walking back to work, i got thinking about it, as you do, and got more and more angry that a) they're even on scooters a lunchtime, there's 100's of kids there to start with, it's just asking for trouble- right? and b) why if they're on scooters why they aren't issued with helmets and pads?

I'm 99% convinced im going to go into school tomorrow and (calmly i hasten to add!) say that im not happy with what happened and I don't want her on a scooter again unless she's suitable protected, etc etc etc. I don't let her on a bike or scooter at home without protection, why is the school taking such liberties with my baby?

Am I right? would others do this? Or am I over reacting?

(PS- i also going to try and get our dentist to have a look at her, teeth still wobbling but hanging on, but her gums look horribly bruised and swollen)

[sherrardk]

My husband would go mental (ex primary deputy head) - he would be full of it, then would just go off to work in the morning and expect me to sort it out.

[LoftyLottie]

Actually, BOO. I understand how you feel, but I wouldn't expect a child on a child's scooter to have to wear headgear. If Mini BOO had been running around the playground at full speed she could well have tripped and ended up with the same injuries.


I just think back to my youth when I was continuously playing on a scooter on the pavements, no knee pads, head gear, etc.

I think it's different for bikes and skate boards, but scooters are not that dangerous.

Be careful not to wrap her in cotton wool. She is your baby and I understand fully your need to protect her, but she will have accidents in the course of growing up. She will be more cautious in future.

I speak as a mum who, looking back on it, made my son when he was small, more cautious than he should have been. Fortunately, he released the apron strings himself when he realised what I was like!!

Please don't stop her going on the scooters if other kids are doing it. It won't do her any favours.

I really hope her teeth will be OK. She'll be fine.

Were you so cautious with Big BOO?

Much Love

Lottie

[jodder]

I have read all these and feel really sad for children growing up today. Everyone has to do what they think is right for their children but do let them live! My youngest aged 27 is currently in Australia on holiday staying with various friends that she met on her 12 month round the world trip 2 years ago. She has on a board in her bedroom at home a list of her favourite sayings. the top one is this... Death is universal, everyone dies, but not evryone lives. I'm glad I gave my children the courage to live.

[LoftyLottie]

In other words, I agree with Bednobs.

(Mr LL used to get angry with me for being over protective!!)

[LoftyLottie]

I agree jodder.

Fortunately, I learned. My son went of to Borneo at 16 with a friend and did all sort of adventurous things. He survived!!

[ummmm]

I'm with bednobs....

[B00]

Awww you're probably right, but you do know i'm going ot ignore you and go into school anyway don't you? LOL

I still believe they should be wearing protective gear. Regardless of what we did as kids or what we allow our children to do at home, I feel school has a responsibility to ensure as much safety as possible. Surely slapping a helmet on isn't much to ask?

[jackthehat]

.......and I'm with B00.......:o)

[bednobs]

yep, we know :)
i think having a helmet that all the kids use is impractical as they are different ages and have different sized heads. Also, they have nits!

[ummmm]

I remember bringing my speed skates into school....I remember losing much skin :-)

She's obviously a tough cookie BOO...

[B00]

Rather nits than missing teeth! She looks like she's gone 10 rounds with Tyson!

[sherrardk]

Maybe it's a perspective thing - if my daughter came home from school with her face bashed in I would lose all sense of reasoning but maybe when she is a bit bigger and I hear of it happening to someone else's child I will just think 'oh, accidents happen!'. Still find it bizarre that they have scooters though.

[B00]

She is nudgescuffler, what's so scary too. Yes i know she was probably hurtling hell for leather, but she's 6 , she doesn't know the consequences! School should be fully aware of what they can be, and unfortunately her face is testament how it can go wrong.

[bednobs]

it would be horrible for her if she was "that kid whose mum dosen't let her on the scooter"
rather like in my day "that kid whose mum wont let them come to the lessons about periods"!!

[LoftyLottie]

BOO, Do you think she should wear a helmet running about, jumping, skipping, chasing other kids. I have done years of playground duty and seen plenty of similar accidents where no equipment has been involved. A scooter is a a plaything for a child, it has been for decades.

She could have fallen of her school chair whilst leaning backwards, I can think of all sorts of things that can happen.

She might fall out of bed!!! My son fell over the top of his cot bars when he was 14 months old and got concussed. He wasn't wearing a helmet?

I know you won't take any notice of me. You must do what you think is right, but I think you are wrong if you complain.

[Barmaid]

OK, so I'm not a mother. I am of a different breed (lawyer) - lack of motherhood not through choice though so don't hold it against me.

My personal view is that kids are kids and that you learn by having the odd scrape - although the school should really have provided safety equipment. (Tbh, I am amazed that my sister and I survived childhood given the stuff we got up to). Having said that if she were one of mine, I'd be really seething.

My professional view is that school were in fact negligent and Mini B00 has a potential claim for personal injury.

The fact that B00 is debating whether to say anything or not is a credit to her. Some parents would be reaching for a "where there's blame there's claim" phone number.

[China Doll]

I don't think scooters should be allowed in the school at all actually.

[welshlibranr]

Oh poor little girl, I don't think that riding scooters with no protection in a playground is a good Idea at all sher!.......have a quiet word tomorrow!.....I certainly would|!..........at my grandsons school they are allowed to ride their scooters to school and home, but they are not allowed to ride them on the school grounds, they have to push them to and from the gates!.......sensible I think!.....

[B00]

A bike's a plaything Lottie, would you let a child, who's been entrusted in your care out bazzing up and down on one without a helmet and pads on? People can argue that a scooter isn't on the same accident league as a bike, but after seeing two teeth hanging on for dear life in her gob, again i beg to differ.

[China Doll]

In fact I don't think they should be allowed outside the bloody park. The amount of times a kid has nearly hit my ankles while riding the poxy thing to school withs some gushing parent looking on adoringly while I try not to brain them and their young one is really quite a lot. (I used to live opposite a school).