Sack race!

[Snadger]

I read recently that Schools are banning the sack race and the three legged race from sports day because they are too dangerous!

Well I suppose they are compared to tiddly winks and chess.....but isn't that the point?

[di]

Our kiddies school "omitted" the mums & dads race @ this years sports day due to a mum causing herself quite a nasty injury last year!(I didnt grumble too much!)But I do agree;H&S gone a bit(lot) too far.(the mum in question didn't sue but I guess I understand organisations are getting scared in our compensation crazed age.
Last year we went to a really good old fashioned sports day at our local park~inc sack races/3 legged/tug of war etc~the kids & us really enjoyed it(except my mate videoed me coming last in the sack race!!)Hoping they might do another one this year.

[Cloud]

I was good at the egg and spoon race.Still I expect that will be banned as it is cruel to unborn chickens!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alice]

Snadger, I thought you knew all children had to be kept wrapped in cotton wool and tied to an armchair. I feel so sorry for them .

[Two_Sheds]

The problem isn't with the schools.
The problem is with parents who complain if their child doesn't win, and who threaten to sue if their child is injured.

(I have a sad, lonely little girl in my swimming class whose Mum wraps her in cotton wool; she's told her she doesn't have to learn to swim if she doesn't like it. How does that help the kid? she has no confidence in anything, because her mum has told her throughout her life that she doesn't have to join in with everyone else. She gets left out of everything. Children need to learn to be independent, to take risks, to experience disappoint as well as triumph)

[Snadger]

The problem isn't with the schools.
The problem is with parents who complain if their child doesn't win, and who threaten to sue if their child is injured.

(I have a sad, lonely little girl in my swimming class whose Mum wraps her in cotton wool; she's told her she doesn't have to learn to swim if she doesn't like it. How does that help the kid? she has no confidence in anything, because her mum has told her throughout her life that she doesn't have to join in with everyone else. She gets left out of everything. Children need to learn to be independent, to take risks, to experience disappoint as well as triumph)

Sadly, we are living in a litigatious lead society!

[Two_Sheds]

I know. But it's all topsy turvy.
But if parents want sports day, then they shouldn't play up if things go a bit awry (twisted ankles, grazes etc).

When I were at primary school, I dropped a paving slab on my foot (they'd been left just heaped up against a portocabin). My toenail came off, there was blood everywhere, my new white plimsolls were ruined... but I knew I shouldn't have touched the slabs, Mum knew it was my fault, and nobody sued anybody.

Conversely, when Mr Sheds got knocked off his bike last year, the coppers wouldn't give the culprit's name & address to us so we could claim for damages. It WAS the other guys fault, because he parked in a bike lane and then opened his door without looking first.

[Seahorse]

The sack race and 3 legged race were alive and well at our school sports day last week

[di]

A bit of reassurance that not all schools have joined the trend~our back garden backs onto the school playground&the juniors are doing their PE lesson on bouncy castles!!
(just hope noone has an accident!;p)
As a mum there are some things that scare the H out of me(bikes for one!),but I think it's a case of being realistic & not just think of worst case scenario if something goes wrong but to also think of what children could be missing out on if all the activities with a slight risk are removed.I often have to hold my heart watching some of the stuff my 2 do at the park etc but I know they're not only getting exercise but also learning a lot about risk taking.Daisy broke her arm falling off a single storey bed last year~you can't take away all the risks~just be sensible & let them have fun!

[SlugLobber]

Apparently lots of schools are stopping the Mum's and Dad's race. What utter cr@p! The whole point of having kids is so that you can be one yourself again, without looking stupid!! Isn't it?? That's my plan, anyway!

I'm involved with the running of a country show in Surrey. For the first time this year, they didn't erect a climbing pole - one of the main draws for kids. Reason? Yep, good old H&S. The owners (Merrist Wood) are now too nervous of being sued if little Johnny or Emily knocks their knee.

[Two_Sheds]

I worry about H&S in the pool ... esp. during "play time", when all the kids try and get on one float, and it sinks. Inevitably someone goes under, splutters and half-drowns themselves.
I just pull them up, pat them on the head and don't make a fuss.
If I made a big fuss, they would think something really terrible had just happened

My sister has brought her kids up tough ... if they fall over, she laughs (with them, not at them) and says "I hope you didn't hurt that concrete". Consequently, they aren't scared to take a tumble, they aren't grizzly cry-babies when they bump themselves, and they are braver, more confident kids for it.

[Starchild]

I broke my thumb falling in the sack race as a kid.

[Mikey]

Oh life is too short, and we are all getting older. Because we are not allowed to get injured when kids anymore, we will not suffer arthritus in old age. Allowing us the ability to sit quietly in our armchairs and do nothing, safe in the knowledge that nothing aches when its cold.

So as I unfortunately missed this new directive, can I interest anyone in a Skydive?

[Two_Sheds]

I broke my thumb falling in the sack race as a kid.

Yeah, but did you sue? Would you sue?

I broke someone's else's toe at judo ... you can't have H&S for martial arts, even if it's children.

[Mikey]

I used to know a boy named sue, he was a tough old lad, who fought a lot.

I guess he wouldn't blame you if you broke his toe, but I wouldn't want to be there if you did.