In the United States alone, a child is injured from falling from a high chair every hour. Parents might be overprotective with their kids when it comes to playing outside the house, but hidden dangers can be also found in seemingly safe places for kids like playgrounds or even at home.
Bright Side gathered a list of all those things that might look safe, but in reality, can be potential dangers for your child. Keeping in mind that our treasured toddlers need our 24/7 supervision, this list will give you a heads up on what other things you need to beware of in order to protect your little ones.
1. Letting them play dangerous sports
There are numerous advantages for kids who are practicing sports, but there is also a specific list of high-impact sports that can be potentially dangerous for them. The “big 6” to avoid, as forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu advises, are American football, ice hockey, mixed martial arts, boxing, wrestling, and rugby. During these sports, a child receives multiple blows to the head, which have the risk of exposure to brain damage, according to neuroscientists.
Also, high-impact activities can cause significant compression of the spine and hyperextension of the back that can lead to serious injuries. The repeated engagement in these sports can aggravate scoliosis over time. Squatting, lifting weight over the head, hard landings like in cheerleading, and long-distance running should be avoided.
2. Letting them sit in a W position
The W position is a really common way kids choose to sit when playing on the floor especially because it’s comfortable for them. However, it is probably the most dangerous position for children to adopt and doctors advise parents to discourage their kiddos from sitting like this.
Moreover, osteopath Avni Trivedi stated during an interview that this position has become “a new health epidemic” that can highly impact a child’s development in their leg joints and hip bones, weaken their trunk muscles, and place extra pressure on their back, neck, and shoulders.
3. Giving them tablets (especially toddlers)
Kiddos spend more and more time in front of screens, especially their favorite new toy, the tablet. Doctors warn parents to reduce “screen time” as much possible because of the blue light, a portion of harmful light that these screens emit.
Common symptoms of overexposure to blue light are headaches, neck and shoulder pain, dry or irritated eyes, but also psychological ones like reduced attention span, poor behavior, and irritability. It can also affect their sleep and wake cycle, making them feel tired and exhausted.
4. Letting them go down the slide on your lap
Most parents think that when they are on the playground with their kiddos, it’s safer to go down the slide with their child on their lap. Actually, this is an extremely hidden playground danger that can cause leg fractures in children.
As pediatrician Dr. Diane Arnaout explains, the parent’s weight pushes everything downward at a higher speed, so in the case that any part of the kid’s shoe or arm sticks out of the slide, the leg or arm could twist and break.
5. Playing the Chubby Bunny game with your kids
Chubby Bunny is a very popular challenge kids usually do with their parents, where they have to place an increasing number of marshmallows in their mouth while stating the phrase “chubby bunny” as clear as possible.
Even though kids might find it extra fun and tasty, since they get to consume their favorite dessert after the game is over, this is a dangerous challenge and several incidents of chocking have occurred.
6. Standing on chairs
This is one of the most common reasons for children’s injuries, especially among toddlers. Kids are unstoppable, and they usually want to climb everything, including chairs. Falling from high chairs, in particular, is the main cause of head trauma and concussions.
Specialists advise parents to strap their kids into meal chairs, not allowing them to stand up, and also to always supervise them because there is always a possibility for the child to kick off from the table and knock over their chair.
7. Playing in the dirt
Kids love to get all dirty playing outdoors. What needs to be considered carefully though is where they play, because digging and playing with dirt can be extremely harmful to children. The main cause is lead and it’s dangerous effects on our health.
Even though lead paint in houses has been banned, there are still places with peeling lead paint like barns, garages, and old housing. Children might be exposed to that from bare soil since lead has been found in yards that were near those places. Lead itself is a poisonous metal that can cause brain damage and life-long problems.
8. Jumping on trampolines
Many parents have installed trampolines, both big and small, in their yards and their kids adore them. This seemingly funny and innocent jumping apparatus can be seriously harmful to children.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ instructions, trampolines shouldn’t be in any home with kiddos. This is because injuries caused by jumping on them happen really often and include broken bones, head injuries, like concussions, and harsher trauma that can lead to permanent brain damage and even death.
9. Mowing the loan with them
Both pushing and riding lawnmowers are heavy and extremely dangerous machines and can easily harm a young child who will probably want to come closer and see how it works. From cases involving kids falling from dad’s lap and getting injured to kids getting trapped under the heavy machinery to having eye injuries from the cut grass, this is not something you want your kid around.
According to HealthyChildren.org, in the United States alone “more than 9,000 children go to the emergency room for lawn mower-related injuries every year.” Children should stay inside the house as a precaution and be sure that neighborhood children aren’t around either.
10. Climbing on outside equipment
Playgrounds are children’s and parents’ favorite destination, however, continuous supervision is needed in order for kids to return safely home.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200,000 cases of children injured on the playground, some of which are fatal, end up in the ER every year in the USA alone. Most of them are caused by climbing. Even though it looks fun and athletic, climbing is one of the most common causes of falls and serious injuries.
11. Riding a bike without a helmet
It’s no surprise that cycling is one of the kids’ favorite activities since it gives them a sense of independence, freedom, and fun — exactly what they want. However, riding a bike can be dangerous when riding irresponsibly, especially for kiddos.
What applies to adults, of course, applies to children too. Wearing a helmet is the number one safety rule since it protects the head in case of a fall. Wearing one can prevent brain injuries and severe trauma. It is also important to never let your kid ride unsupervised. Cycling can be a great family activity, so be a good example and ride along with them with your helmet on.
We hope that this selection of potential dangers will help you and your kids enjoy a safer daily life. Are you an overprotective parent? What was the most dangerous adventure you got into as a kid? Tell us your stories in the comments.
A Boy Visited the Grave of His Adoptive Mother He Resented in Life, and Found an Envelope with His Name on It
13-year-old Stuart built walls around his heart, refusing to accept his adoptive mother’s love. His resentment for her followed her to the grave. One day, he found an envelope addressed to him on her tomb, bearing a truth that shattered his heart and brought him to tears.
The linoleum floor of the children’s shelter squeaked beneath five-year-old Stuart’s worn sneakers. His small fingers clutched a worn teddy bear, its fur matted and faded like a shield against the world’s indifference.
All the other children played joyfully in the background, but Stuart remained isolated. The surrounding joy and laughter felt like sandpaper on an open wound. He saw himself as “unwanted” and resigned himself to a life of loneliness.
A sad little boy holding a teddy bear | Source: Midjourney
His eyes, deep and weary for such a young soul, had seen too much. Countless potential couples had come and gone, but nobody showed any particular interest in adopting him. Either because he was too gloomy and shy, or perhaps because he simply didn’t fit the mold of the ideal adoptive child.
Then one day, a woman named Jennifer arrived at the shelter, and she was immediately drawn to Stuart. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched him. She saw more than just a child. She saw a spirit wounded, and a heart waiting to be understood.
Her life had been a series of challenges: late-night shifts, financial struggles, and the weight of being alone. But something about this boy spoke to her in a language beyond words.
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
“Hi there,” she said gently, her voice soft as a whisper, careful not to startle him.
Stuart’s head jerked up, his body tensing. He thought it was going to be another potential disappointment. And another moment of hope about to be crushed.
He’d learned to read adults, their fake smiles, and their rehearsed kindness. His teddy bear pressed tightly against his chest, his only true companion.
“Are you another person who’s just going to look at me and then leave?” Stuart’s voice was small like a fragile growl from a wounded cub.
A sad little boy looking up | Source: Midjourney
Jennifer’s heart broke. She knelt down, moving slowly, understanding that sudden movements could shatter this delicate moment.
“No, not at all, sweetie. I’m Jennifer. And I promise you, I’m not here to just look and leave.”
Stuart’s eyes — those enormous, skeptical eyes — studied her. Years of disappointment had taught him that promises meant nothing.
“Would you like to come home with me?” Jennifer asked, her hand hovering just inches from his, respecting his space.
A battle raged in Stuart’s small heart. Hope versus abandonment. Trust versus heartbreak.
Close-up shot of a compassionate woman extending her hand | Source: Midjourney
“You really want me?” he whispered, tears threatening to spill. “Everybody says I’m a gloomy kid.”
At that moment, Jennifer saw beyond the frightened child. She saw a soul desperate to be loved and belong.
“More than anything in this world,” she replied, her eyes glistening. “More than you could ever know.”
Little did Stuart know that Jennifer wanted him more than he could ever imagine… not just as an adopted child, but as the very heartbeat of her existence.
The teddy bear seemed to squeeze a little less tightly now. A tiny, almost imperceptible crack appeared in Stuart’s protective wall.
A sad little boy with his eyes downcast | Source: Midjourney
Hope, fragile and trembling, began to take root. The adoption was finalized, and Stuart finally found a loving home. However, he refused to accept Jennifer as his mother, building a fort of reluctance around his heart.
She was hurt by his resistance. He wouldn’t even call her “Mom.” Just Jennifer. She hoped that time would heal the wounds.
But the years rolled by like a turbulent river, each moment a test of Jennifer’s love and Stuart’s wounded heart. The shield of isolation the boy had built in the children’s shelter grew taller and more fortified with each passing year.
A boy looking out the window | Source: Midjourney
But Jennifer didn’t give up, and she kept trying, hoping for a miracle.
Homework night was always a battlefield.
“I don’t need your help!” Stuart would argue. His backpack would sail across the room, folders and papers scattering like fallen leaves.
Jennifer remained calm, her hands steady as she collected the fallen papers. “I’m just trying to help you, sweetheart.”
“Don’t call me that!” Stuart’s eyes would blaze. “My real mother would have understood me. She would have known exactly what I needed without me having to explain! You’re NOT my REAL mother.”
The words were a knife, but Jennifer’s love was stronger than the boy’s hatred. She knew each harsh word was another layer of his protection, and another attempt to push away the love he desperately needed but was terrified to accept.
A heartbroken woman | Source: Midjourney
“Your algebra looks challenging,” she said one day, picking up a crumpled worksheet. “Want to talk about it?”
“No!” Stuart, now ten, turned away, his small shoulders rigid with ignorance. “You wouldn’t understand. You’re not—”
“Not your real mom,” Jennifer finished his sentence, a sad smile touching her lips. “I know.”
But her eyes told a different story. Each word he threw was a fragment of a heart trying to protect itself, a child desperate to believe he was unlovable because loving meant risking abandonment again.
A frustrated boy | Source: Midjourney
Later that night, Jennifer sat on the edge of Stuart’s bed. He pretended to be asleep, but she knew better. Her hand hovered over his back, not touching, but close enough to offer comfort.
“I might not be your real mother,” she whispered, “but my love for you is as real as any love can be.”
Stuart’s breath hitched just for a moment.
“Go away,” he mumbled, but there was less anger now. But more hurt. And more vulnerability.
Jennifer’s hurt burned within her. How she wanted to pull him into a hug. How she wanted to explain that her love ran deeper than he could possibly understand. But fear held her back. The fear of losing him forever.
“I’ll always be here,” she said softly before leaving the room. “Always.”
A portrait of an emotional woman | Source: Midjourney
In the darkness, Stuart clutched his old teddy bear — the one from the shelter. The one Jennifer had carefully preserved all these years. A silent witness to a love more complicated than either of them could comprehend.
The night absorbed their unspoken emotions… the love, the pain, and the desperate need to connect yet fear of being lost.
Years fleeted by like leaves on the breeze. Then one day, the diagnosis came like a thunderbolt, splitting Jennifer’s world into a before and after.
Stage four. Terminal cancer.
The doctor’s words echoed in the sterile hospital room, but Jennifer’s mind was anywhere but on herself.
A doctor in her office | Source: Midjourney
Stuart, now 13, sat across from her, his arms crossed, and a wall of teenage indifference masking the storm of emotions brewing beneath.
“I need to talk to you about some important things,” Jennifer began, her voice soft and loving. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for a notebook comprising a compilation of life lessons, contact information, and love she wanted to leave behind.
“I don’t want to hear it,” Stuart muttered, turning away.
Jennifer’s heart ached. Even now, her son refused to let her in. “Please,” she said, “just listen for a moment.”
A teenage boy frowning in a hospital | Source: Midjourney
She began explaining practical matters — how to do laundry, basic cooking, and managing small household tasks. Each instruction was a love letter disguised as mundane advice.
“You’ll need to learn to take care of yourself after I’m gone, dear,” she explained, sliding the notebook across the table. “Insurance papers are in the blue folder. Emergency contacts are—”
“Stop!” Stuart’s voice erupted, tears threatening to spill over but never falling. “Stop acting like you’re already gone!”
A woman lying in a hospital bed | Source: Pexels
The room fell silent. Jennifer’s eyes were pools of infinite love and unshed tears.
“I’m trying to protect you,” she whispered. “I’ve always been trying to protect you.”
Stuart fled the room, fighting back tears. The thought of being left alone all over again crushed his spirit.
Then, a month later, Jennifer lost her battle with cancer.
At the funeral, Stuart stood like a statue. The world moved around him. People were whispering, crying, and sharing memories. But he remained detached like a marble figure carved from grief and anger.
A grieving teenage boy in a cemetery | Source: Midjourney
Jennifer’s best friend, Carol, watched him carefully. She remembered Jennifer’s final request… a promise made in quiet, desperate moments.
“Promise me you’ll help him understand,” Jennifer had whispered just two days before she died, her hand clutching Carol’s. “Promise me you’ll make sure he knows how much he was loved. Promise me you’ll be there for him and love him like your own.”
Sighing a deep breath, Carol turned to Stuart. His eyes were dry. No tears. No visible emotion. Just a profound emptiness that scared Carol more than any outburst could.
As the casket lowered, something inside the boy began to crack. Not visibly. Not yet. But a fracture had begun… tiny, almost imperceptible, but real.
Somberly dressed men carrying a casket | Source: Pexels
Carol approached Stuart after the service. “Your mother,” she began, “she loved you more than—”
“Don’t,” Stuart cut her off. “Just don’t.”
He returned home, enveloped by a grave silence. Jennifer’s voice, her constant, “Dinner is ready, sweetie!” calls from downstairs, and even the aroma of the pies she used to bake for him haunted Stuart. He walked around the house, tormented by the ghosts of memories.
The last thing Jennifer had written in her diary, tucked away where Stuart would eventually find it, was a simple message:
“My dearest Stuart,
I love you more than you will ever know.
More than words can say.
Always & forever,
Mom”
A diary | Source: Pixabay
Stuart threw the diary on the bed, refusing to cry. But beneath the anger, beneath the wall he’d built, a tiny seed of something had been planted. A seed Jennifer had nurtured with every breath of her life.
Nine days after the funeral, Carol looked frail as she nervously approached Stuart in his room. He was staring at Jennifer’s framed photo on the wall.
“Sweetie,” Carol called out. The boy approached reluctantly.
“Before your mother died,” she said, “she made me promise to do something.” Her fingers, now thin and trembling, gripped his wrist. “Nine days after she was gone, I was to place something at her grave.”
A boy facing the wall | Source: Midjourney
Stuart’s eyes widened. “What is that?”
“You should visit her grave, sweetheart. She left something there just for you.”
Stuart’s eyes filled with tears he forced himself to hold back. “For me? But why there… of all places?”
“Because some truths can only be understood when the heart is ready to listen, dear.”
Mustering the courage, Stuart hurried to the cemetery, his legs slowing down as he approached Jennifer’s grave. Tears welled up in his eyes when he found an envelope on her tomb.
It was pristine. Addressed to him in her familiar, loving handwriting.
An envelope on a tomb | Source: Midjourney
His hands shook as he opened it and began reading:
“From your biological mother.
My dearest Stuart,
The day I gave birth to you, I was a scared 19-year-old girl. Your father, a man who promised me the world, disappeared the moment he learned I was pregnant. I was alone, terrified, with nothing but a broken dream and a baby I loved more than life itself. My heart shattered the day I left you at the shelter’s doorstep.
Those five years you spent there broke my heart into a million pieces. Each night, I would cry, wondering if you were warm, if you were loved, and if you were eating enough. I worked three jobs, saved every penny, just to create a life where I could bring you home.
When I came to adopt you, I saw a boy who had been hurt. Abandoned. Rejected. And I knew I could never tell you the truth. Not then. Not when your wounds were so fresh.
So I became your adoptive mom… the woman who would love you unconditionally. Who would absorb your anger and your hatred. Who would wait patiently for the day you might understand and accept me.
I am not just your adoptive mother. I am your biological mother. I have always been your mother.
I loved you before you were born. I loved you through every harsh word. I love you still… from the beyond.
Forgive me. Please.
Your mother,
Jennifer”
An emotional boy reading a letter in a cemetery | Source: Midjourney
Warm tears splashed onto the paper. Time seemed to stand still as memories flooded back: Jennifer’s endless patience. Her quiet love. The teddy bear she’d kept all these years. Every little thing.
“MOM!” Stuart whispered, his voice breaking free of the emotions he’d been holding all these years. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
His fingers traced the gravestone. The wind seemed to wrap around him like a mother’s embrace.
“I love you,” he sobbed. “I always loved you. I just didn’t know how to show it. I was afraid of losing you. Of being abandoned again. I didn’t do it intentionally. And I… I didn’t know that you were my real mother. I’m sorry.”
A boy crying in a cemetery | Source: Midjourney
Silence surrounded him. Then, a gentle gust of breeze caressed his cheek. It felt like Jennifer was patting him. A small smile lit up Stuart’s face as he carefully tucked the letter back into the envelope. He leaned and planted a soft kiss on the gravestone, whispering, “Love you, Mom.”
From that day onward, Stuart visited his mother’s grave daily. Not out of obligation. But out of a love finally understood. A love that had waited, patient and unconditional, through every harsh word and every moment of rejection. A love that would continue… unbroken and forever.
A grieving boy holding a bouquet of white lilies in a cemetery | Source: Midjourney
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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