A TikTok video, posted on 7 April 2023, has been making rounds on social media, showing a skater dad carrying his young child while skateboarding in the new SkatePark @ Lakeside Garden.
The video has sparked mixed reactions from viewers, with some applauding the dad for his unique parenting style and some criticising him for risking his child’s safety.
Posted on TikTok by user @wikicalisthenics, the video shows the man cradling a toddler as he weaves around the Mini Bowl Pod at the newly opened SkatePark @ Lakeside Garden on his skateboard.
After witnessing the duo, the TikTok user, who happened to be passing by, referred to their performance as “super cool and awesome”. The video capturing the scene has since gained 113,500 views and garnered 125 comments.
Concerns for Child’s Safety from Some
With the video garnering much attention, some viewers have expressed concern about the safety risks involved in such an activity.
Netizens questioned whether the dad was violating any park laws or regulations. While no specific rule in Singapore prohibits parents from skateboarding with their children, some question whether this activity should be encouraged, considering the potential safety risks.
The rules of SuperPark Singapore, an indoor skate park with similar facilities, advise against children under five engaging in skateboarding due to their bodies’ susceptibility to injury from force.
They stress that such activity poses a risk of bone fractures and other injuries in children of that age. Despite skateboarding being a popular pastime for people of all ages, they noted that young children will need adult supervision and assistance when performing such activities.
Some comments also highlighted that the action could be hazardous because the child was not wearing a helmet. One of the top comments on the video states: “I’m sure he is skilful and knows what to do if he senses danger, but it’s good to have (a) child helmet just for safety purposes in the future, just in case.”
Others agreed that it’s all fun and games until something terrible happens. Evidently, Parkway East Hospital outlined several frequent injuries skaters could sustain, including sprains and fractures in the wrists, fingers, and knees, tears in limb ligaments, shoulder injuries, head trauma, and others.
Others Encouraged the Bonding Activity
Aside from the criticism, there were also many viewers who expressed their admiration for the dad’s unique approach to parenting.
Many netizens found the sight of a dad skating with his toddler cute and observed that both the dad and the child seemed to enjoy the unique form of family bonding.
Skateboarding admirers have also acknowledged the father’s remarkable skateboarding abilities, and some have even stated that he did not execute any “fancy moves” that could have endangered his child.
Moreover, the child was tightly held in his dad’s arms and was not actually the one skating, reducing his chances of injury.
A mother who also experienced a similar scenario shared her viewpoint in the comments section, asserting that viewers should trust that no father would intentionally harm their child.
Furthermore, numerous commenters have highlighted that the man in the video was actually a professional skateboarder who contributed to designing the skate park in conjunction with the National Parks Board (NParks).
According to netizens, he is a coach at The Skateboard Academy and is “one of the top skateboarding coaches in Singapore”.
The TikTok user who posted the video has since gone on to add that the child was happy and wanted another go at the rounds his dad made around the Mini Bowl Pod.
Park Regulations
Opened earlier this month, the Skate Park @ Lakeside Garden is Singapore’s biggest outdoor skate park. The skate park is meant to be a safe place for skating and honing skateboarding skills.
It offers five skate pods tailored to skaters with varying levels of expertise, including the Skate Pod, Skate Drain Pod, Mini Bowl Pod, Big Bowl Pod, and Plaza Pod, which is sheltered and usable in all weather conditions.
The Mini Bowl Pod, for example, is specifically intended for novice and intermediate skateboarders.
Additionally, the park encompasses a 300m parkour park complete with a 3m-high bouldering wall.
NParks have since erected etiquette boards throughout the park, outlining the terms of use, such as the requirement for safety gear and user suggestions. In addition, they worked with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to devise a plan for handling emergencies and carrying out swift responses to ensure the utmost safety for Skate Park users.
You can watch the full TikTok video here.
@wikicalisthenics Saw this dad at the skate park bringing his kid with him on his skateboard! Super cool and awesome! #skateboarding ♬ 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
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