So my three year old has, since she was little, been really into jumping. I try to warn her that she could seriously injure herself, but this hasn’t happened yet so she doesn’t think I’m serious. But she jumps over and off anything. Sisters bunk bed to the armchair 2 meters away? No problem. Bunk bed to the floor? Sticks the landing every time. I swear my partner must have cheated on me with a f##king spider monkey.

How do I convince her to not do the jumps that could break her ankle if she lands wrong? I’m not getting through to her. I’m happy she is physically active, but she’s taking the piss.

  • Somewhiteguy@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    There is a certain point in a child’s life where they are either going to hear it from you or hear it from a surgeon. My 11 year old had a desire to jump from high places for a time as well. He bruised his heel once and had a hard time walking for a week. Pain is a very good educator. Dissuade them from anything that may end their short life early, but if it’s just going to hurt, let them go. My guidance for kids generally is to be mindful not to tear up the furniture or harm others, but if this hurts after I’ve warned you it’s on you. Here is the first-aid kit. We ultimately got them a trampoline, which was extensively used.

  • toofpic@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    My position is that if at the end of a day your kid still has the same amount of limbs and eyes, it’s fine. My kids are 8 and 10 now, they’re active, and they more or less know what’s dangerous and what’s not, because they fell of things face-first a couple of times.
    Overprotecting can also be dangerous just for development. When my daughter was like 5, she had a friend af the same age, a girl who DIDN’T LEARN HOW TO RUN, because her mom was scared for her. I’m happy we didn’t go crazy about safety. Your kid wants to jump off a cupboard? You can just comment that it could be painful, and maybe show a picture of a fractured ankle x-ray.

  • passiveaggressivesonar@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    She may jump and break her ankle (I seriously hope not) but it might happen and it won’t be your fault or her fault, kids do that

    I’d imagine it like driving, it’s by far the most dangerous thing we do but it’s necessary to live. Teach them how to drive and how to avoid danger and what to look out for and take the risk

    • Scott_of_the_Arctic@lemmy.worldOP
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      5 days ago

      You see, driving doesn’t need to be that dangerous. While the USA has 12.9 traffic related deaths per 100k my country has 2. And it’s still a good analogy because the difference lies in driver education. We have special classes to teach night driving, long distance driving, rural driving, driving on ice, how to correctly install child seats, how to safely fasten loads to the roof rack etc. And that’s what I’d like in this case. To equip her with more knowledge about what can go wrong and how to avoid it.

    • brambc@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      This comment would be gold for fuckcars!

      I don’t have a drivers license, not sure if alive.

  • zzx@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    I was like this as a kid. I broke my wrist and toned it down a bit. Just a bit mind you.

  • adarza@lemmy.ca
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    6 days ago

    she may enjoy an activity like tumbling, trampoline, gymnastics, or even figure skating.

  • eyes_uncl0uded@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Don’t know where you’re located, but there are parkour gyms popping up all over the place, and most have kids classes. They may go by ninja warrior gyms or be combined with climbing or gymnastics gyms. These gyms are often designed with kids and safety in mind, and will teach kids safe, sustainable movements

    Another option is to scout a local parkour group. The one I’ve attended events of most in the past, SF Parkour (in the SF bay area) has events specifically for kids. You’ll want to vet the groups of course and likely be present as they’re not daycares, but you may be surprised how many parkourspeople are knowledgeable and mindful about safety and developing sustainable body mechanics. There are some reckless groups and members out there for sure, but most are rather cautious

    Parkour is a meditative practice for most I’ve encountered and seen online, though that may be NorCal thing and online self-selection. Scouting some strong mentors and content from online communities that reinforce learning one’s limits and safely expanding them will likely encourage her to do the same. Can’t speak more highly of Raul Piscoya, the guy who runs SF parkour

    • Scott_of_the_Arctic@lemmy.worldOP
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      6 days ago

      I don’t think the local parkour gym takes anyone under 14. Probably for insurance purposes. But I’ll see if there’s anything similar.

  • flambonkscious@sh.itjust.works
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    6 days ago

    Maybe you could change the message a little bit and enter deeper into her world?

    We had a stage where we’d play variations on the floor is lava and set up obstacle courses for them - often just by spreading cushions around as stepping stones. Now this is probably a bit lame for your wee one but where I’m going with this is when you start including elevation (chairs or if you’ve got bar stools that are tall?) the pillows in the floor start to roll.

    Them you join in the game as the lava crocodile and capture them any chance they’re too low or make mistakes, and something is bound to happen before long…

    So this has three parts to it:

    • it escalates their play and incorporates some pressure / chasing which is fun
    • it also includes you in the game making it a shared activity
    • it takes you away from the scolding buzz-kill parent, so your warnings might not fall on deaf ears (especially after the inevitable happens, and chances are it’ll be minor in this setting too - provided you don’t have glass coffee tables!)

    Good luck!