The Sitter.com Blog

Seesaws, tall slides and monkey bars are disappearing from playgrounds. They are being replaced by 'Safety-first' playgrounds.

At first thought this seems like a natural and correct evolution, and certainly not an issue of debate, and I imagine that parents who have had to deal with concussions and broken arms wouldn’t agree that playgrounds have become too safe....

Waking up to a bright, sunny day today, albeit still nippy, has prompted these musings.

They are totally random thoughts, but make me happy. ...

The calendar says it is so; the robins are here; and the tulips are trying to push up through the residual piles of snow.

But the reality is that within the last week we have had snow, ice and below freezing temperatures.

Enough already. Those of us who live in the northern United Staes or in Canada expect all of these things, but we have our limits! It's the middle of April!

All parents have their longings:...

Where do you stand on this issue?

The Facts:

• Her daughter was labelled obese at 7 years old.
• Her weight was 42 kilograms or 93 pounds.
• She had gained 30 pounds in one year.
• The young girl was just over 2 metres tall (3 feet 4 inches) .
• Her paediatrician advised her parents to act.