Even if your child can’t walk or even crawl, he or she can still go outside safely with the following suggestions.

Swings: Playgrounds or parks often have swings with seats attached. If they are sturdy enough, your child can join in the game with gentle pushes. Most young children love the feeling of being blown by the cool breeze as they soar through the air. And after playing for a while, you will quickly realize that the joy and laughter appear not only in your child but also in the other children around. To make your child more excited, you can tickle his or her toes or jump up and down in front of the swing as well as play “peek-a-boo” with your child.

Slides: Stand at a high end of the slide and let your child slide down gently on his or her buttocks or stomach, with his or her feet in front. It is difficult to know whether your child likes this game or not. You can also show your child how a ball or a toy car rolls quickly from the top of the slide. And it’s not too early to point out some safety rules that your child should apply as he gets older, such as waiting for others to come off the slide before taking his turn, or not climbing up the slide from below. For young children, the safest way to slide is to lie on your back on the slide with your arms crossed over your chest.

Sand Play Area: The first thing you need to do is check the sand area for broken glass or other sharp objects so that your child can safely go in and play comfortably barefoot. When your child wants to play in the sand, help him stay busy with accompanying toys such as shovels, rakes, and other construction tools. In addition, you can build sand castles with your child or pile sand all over his feet so he can happily shake the sand off.

Playtime: Young children love to watch older children play. You and your child should find a cool spot in the playground (away from the reach of flying balls or bike tracks) and spread out a mat and watch the children play. Tell your child what he or she is seeing and how much fun it will be when he or she is old enough to participate.