Summer Playground Safety

 

Playgrounds are a great way to get kids out of the house and exercising during the summertime, but safety precautions should be taken to ensure a fun and safe experience. Follow these tips to make sure your child stays safe while having fun on the playground:

swings at playground

  • Always actively watch children while at the playground 
  • Check the playground before children begin to play. Check for broken or rusted equipment or anything that just doesn’t look right. 
  • Teach children how to play nicely with others and that pushing and shoving can be dangerous. 
  • Dress kids appropriately, removing any necklaces, scarves, or drawstrings that could get caught on a piece of equipment. 

In addition, your child’s age is important in determining the best playground and equipment to play on. Children under 5 should play in a different area than older children, as young children and older children play differently and little ones could get hurt. Babies starting to walk need an area with a smooth and easy surface to walk on. Babies with good head control who are able to sit up with support can try the bucket-shaped baby swings. 

 

One of the most important aspects of a safe playground is the ground surfacing. Here are several tips regarding the best surfaces:

  • Avoid playgrounds with non-impact absorbing surfaces, like concrete, dirt, grass, or asphalt. 
  • Ideal playground surfaces are made of mulch, wood chips, shredded rubber, sand, or rubber mats.
  • The playground surface should be at least 1-foot-deep and extend at least 6 feet around all equipment. 

If you see any hazards or broken equipment on a playground, report it to the organization responsible for the playground, and don’t let your child play there until it is fixed. 

Keep the above tips in mind when visiting the playground for a safe and fun summertime family outing.

Source: https://www.safekids.org/tip/playground-safety-tips