The government has launched an investigation into the safety of play equipment at Millbrook Park after a child was hospitalised following a fall this weekend.
The youngster was left requiring surgery after breaking both arms whilst climbing at the park in St Lawrence on Sunday 5 October.
Shocked by what had happened, the injured child’s grandmother took to social media to express her concerns over the safety of the equipment, leading numerous other islanders to echo those concerns. Some reported other incidents of children being hurt in similar circumstances.
The Coronation Park climbing frame, which was installed last summer, features an open gap in the middle for children to climb over, which was described as “an accident waiting to happen”.
Speaking to Express, the grandmother, who wished to remain anonymous, called for a safety net to be installed underneath the equipment to prevent the same thing from happening to other children.
When contacted about the concerns, Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan confirmed this afternoon: “We have been made aware through social media of a safety incident at Coronation Park and we’re launching an investigation.
“Public safety is our priority, and we are working to understand what happened. Our thoughts are with the child affected and we wish them a speedy recovery.”
We have been made aware through social media of a safety incident at Coronation Park and we’re launching an investigation
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan
Deputy Louise Doublet, who studied risky play and risk-taking behaviours in children and adolescents as a former primary school teacher, said that “risky play” is “necessary for healthy child development”.
She explained: “Whilst adults should not encourage risk-taking in children, and should be mindful of the difference between risk and danger, risky play is and should be a natural part of childhood. It is necessary for healthy child development.
“If we remove all risk from children’s play spaces the result is that children do not have the same opportunities to build resilience, problem-solving skills, and ways of engaging with peers during play that build their social skills.
“Picture an eight-year-old helping a six-year-old on a climbing frame – the older child gets to develop their ability to help others and a sense of self-confidence, the six-year-old gains a feeling of self-efficacy and trust in others.”
Deputy Doublet added: “Research shows that children who are prevented from accessing reasonable and appropriate risky play opportunities will go on to take more negative risks as adolescent such as shoplifting.”
Sharing advice she was taught as a primary school teacher around risky play, Deputy Doublet said:
- “Let children direct their own play as they naturally develop an understanding of their own capabilities;
- “Don’t shout, ‘Be careful!’ at them as this can distract and is vague;
- “Instead, use terms such as, ‘does that feel safe?’ or ‘does that feel steady under your feet/hands?’; and
- “Check in with the body language and facial expressions of the child – look for whether they seem in control of their body and have a determined expression and are using trial and error.”