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Talking to your child about dangerous games
The game of the scarf, the bar of soap, the blue dream, the Indian dream, the tomato, sudden death, the game of the can, the small bridge, the scrum … in total nearly 90 names of “practices” listed and revealed by children and adolescents who have tried them. Some have found themselves nailed to a hospital bed, their spleen burst, ribs fractured, or outright paralyzed. Others have paid for the experience of their lives.
However, the danger of these “games” is still too often overlooked. The National Education is still wondering how to alert teachers without creating a psychosis in parents … and without making these games the object of all temptations among students. For their part, parents’ associations are trying to alert the public authorities to these games which kill one child per month in absolute indifference.
Before 10-11 years old, children are less aware of the consequences of their actions. Playing a game that the best buddy claims to be “safe” seems appealing to them because of the novelty and “sensations” that the buddy describes and that the child in turn wants to experience. Moreover, not all of them have recourse to a scarf or a belt, some say that they play “to hold their breath” until they fall in the apples, before being brought back in a state of health. conscience by buddies. This takes place in the playground or in the canteen. Unbeknownst to supervisors and teachers.
Without stressing the hallucinatory sensations, it is important to explain to your child that playing with his neck is just as dangerous as playing with matches or with household products. That a friend who presses on the neck with his thumbs (the play of the scarf) or on the sternum (the play of the tomato) until choking, prevents the oxygen from reaching the brain, which can cause death or severe disability.
Dangerous games: you don’t play with your life
Dangerous games: warning signs
For a long time, it was believed that dangerous games were reserved for adolescents in need of sensations, even suicidal. However, for children to play a dangerous game, it is the feeling of evolving in a universe that they think they control.
— Traces on the neck : the first experience of strangulation is often repeated, which leaves traces that the child tries to hide under a turtleneck or a sling.
— Rope, belt, laces : hang out in the room. One refuses to part with his judo belt, the other holds his pants with sneaker laces. Children must absolutely be asked about the presence of these objects in their room.
— Headache, dizziness, flushing of the face : are signs associated with strangulation.
— Questions : the most curious ask questions about strangulation, the sensation it causes … always take them seriously.
— Rings : some children, who play the headscarf game in groups, wear an additional ring for each successful “test”.
Do you want to talk about it between parents? To give your opinion, to bring your testimony? We meet on https://forum.parents.fr.