Head Start Playground Child Safety Rules

The Office of Head Start's Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center estimates that more than 200,000 children are treated annually for injuries associated with playground equipment. To combat this, the Handbook for Public Playground Safety was developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.


According to the Knowledge Center, "Public school or public playgrounds used by Head Start programs must comply with all safety requirements prescribed by applicable local laws." When there is no applicable law, Head Start must follow specifications outlined in the Handbook.

  1. Supervision

    • According to the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center, children at Head Start are required to be monitored by one staff member for every 10 children. The Head Start Resource Center, an independent organization that works with the Office of Head Start, states that staff members must have easy visual contact with all children using the equipment.

    Using Age-Specific Equipment

    • Signs containing age limits for equipment will be posted on the playground. Children may only play on equipment that is designated for their age group. The Handbook for Public Playground Safety states that children 2 years old and younger should not use equipment with nets, tires or rung ladders. Vertical sliding poles, track rides, and fulcrum seesaws should not be used by children under the age of 5.

    Protective Surfaces

    • The following materials are appropriate for playgrounds, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission: pea gravel, sand, shredded/recycled rubber mulch, wood mulch and wood chips. Any material that has been tested to ASTM F1292, an impact standard, also is acceptable. Inappropriate surfacing would be asphalt, concrete, grass or dirt. Children are not permitted to throw or misuse protective surfacing.

    Awareness of Unsafe Objects

    • According to the Head Start Playground Safety Checklist, playgrounds "must be policed and cleaned daily to insure all surfaces are free of foreign objects." Objects that can crush, sheer, entangle, entrap, impale or trip are not permitted at playgrounds. Children or parents should report loose bolts, ropes or sharpened edges. Children should avoid equipment with broken parts, missing parts, splinters, rust, cracks, holes or gaps between 3 cm and 9 cm.

      Drawstrings on clothing are not permitted due to the possibility of strangulation.

    Proper Usage of Equipment

    • Children must climb equipment in the way that it is designed. All Head Start platforms are required to have guardrails and proper spacing for children to turn around. As such, children should not climb over or around railing. Children should not attempt to place their heads between rails or other gaps. Gaps between 3 cm and 9 cm could cause head entrapment.

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