Keep an eye on your outdoor thermometer gauge when making the decision to go out. Sunny days can be extremely misleading. The rule of thumb is to stay indoors if temperatures hit below 20 degrees.

What do innertube and saucer sleds both have in common, you ask? No ability to steer! You may be tempted to purchase an innertube sled for your child because they are easy to deflate and store once the season is over. But an important point to remember is they are extremely dangerous and should be avoided. 

This one should be pretty self-explanatory. Once it starts getting dark, not only are the temperatures dropping it also becomes harder to see dangerous roadblocks such as trees, roadways and low-hanging branches. 

Sled riding on a good hill can be a blast. The trick is finding the perfect hill. The climb of the hill should be no steeper than 30 degrees. If you aren't sure, do a test run yourself before allowing your little ones to go down. 

No matter how safe you are being during your sled-riding adventure, it is always a possibility that you end up losing control of your sled. Make sure you teach your children when and how to "abandon ship." The best way to exit a sled that is losing control is to roll off of it.