With fall winding down and winter weather looming, ice is coming! Parents may have concerns for their child’s safety when rushing about in the snow. Parents may be asking, should I let my child walk on ice, or steer them clear?
Practicing on Ice
Let them walk on ice, safely!
Kids who have not played on ice before to test and know their limits are more likely to have big falls that could result in injury.
Children learn balance and motor plans by testing their limits. On each new surface kiddos encounter, their body needs to learn how to stay safe.
This takes some practice, especially on uneven surfaces like a hiking trail in the snow, and slippery surfaces like ice! With more experience, kids will be safer and have more confidence navigating walking on ice. Here are some of the best places to ice skate in the Milwaukee area.
Adapting on Ice
Children adapt to varied surfaces by trying what they know, walking normally, and then feeling themselves begin to fall. They learn how far outside of their normal base of support they can go before falling, and their brain uses those limits to create a map inside their head. We call this having “body awareness”. After many tries, the map develops into the safest way for their bodies to move on a new surface by creating a “motor plan” to get across the icy patch.
That being said, safety and possible injury is a big concern for caregivers. While kids who have experienced ice are less likely to get injured, stay close to children exploring the ice for the first time. This will allow their body to learn its limits while preventing injury. This may include offering a hand to hold on to, having their first attempt be a place where they will fall on snow, or making sure you are near enough if they begin to fall.
Some children’s bodies need extra help to learn how to stay safe. You should ask your physician for a physical therapy referral to Medical Support Services if your child:
- Fall frequently
- Has difficulty navigating new surfaces or playground equipment
- Needs help walking on ice even after practicing
- Sustained a sprain, strain, or other injury from falling on ice
- Frequently feels unbalanced