How to Keep the Playground Safe
According to the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission, more than 200,000 American children visit a hospital emergency room each year due to playground-related injuries. As a parent, it is important that you check that a playground is safe before allowing your child to play on it. You can also make sure that the playground stays a safe place for your child by teaching your child some basic playground safety rules.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
Instructions
Check the Playground
Take a look at the protective surfacing at the playground -- usually wood chips, pea gravel, shredded rubber or a similar material. It should be at least 12 inches deep, extend at least six feet in all directions from the playground equipment, and extend away from the swing set to a distance at least twice the height of the set's topmost bar. Check that elevated surfaces of the play equipment (above 30 inches) have guardrails around them and are at least nine feet apart. Examine the equipment, looking for protruding hardware, sharp edges or tripping hazards. Measure the space between guardrails, ladder rungs or similar bars to ensure that they have gaps of either less than 3.5 inches or more than nine inches. Examine the play group equipment regularly to check for dangerous wear and tear. There should be some sign that equipment is being checked and maintained, or check with the parks department that it is. Watch the Kids
Supervise kids well on the playground, especially toddlers and preschoolers. Dress your child in safe playground clothes. Necklaces, scarves, drawstrings, purses or even helmets can pose a danger on the playground. Teach your children that rough play, such as shoving, jumping on others and throwing wood chips, is dangerous. Make sure that your children are playing on age-appropriate playground equipment. For example, toddlers should not be playing on equipment meant for grade schoolers.