Playground Safety Guideline: Rules, Equipment, Tips
Parents and caretakers of young children, especially toddlers, can keep their kids safe while having a blast on the playground with these helpful and effective safety tips.
Contents:
- What Are the Safety Rules on the Playground?
- What Are the Safety Hazards in the Playground?
- Tips for Preschoolers Parents
- Guideline for Safe Use of Playground Equipment
- Why is Playground Safety Important
- FAQ
What Are the Safety Rules on the Playground?
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Playgrounds are an excellent place for kids to have fun, socialize, and burn off some energy. However, safety should always come first.
It’s important for parents and caregivers to know and enforce some basic playground rules to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everything.
- Supervise At All Times:Never leave children unattended on the playground. Kids need adult supervision to help avoid potential hazards.
- No Pushing or Rough Play: Teach children to respect others by not engaging in rough play or pushing, which can lead to injuries.
- Use Equipment Correctly: Show children how to correctly use equipment. Swings should be used sitting down, slides should be gone down feet first, and climbing equipment should be used properly to prevent falls.
- Age-Appropriate Areas: Ensure children play on age-appropriate equipment. Playgrounds often have separated areas designed for different age groups.
- Check for Hazards: Before letting your child play, check the area for potential hazards such as broken equipment, sharp objects, or tripping hazards.
When you and your child stick to these playground safety rules, you both can avoid playground-related injuries and enjoy a wonderful day together.
For an extra layer of security, consider equipping your child with the Findmykids app. Download it to keep a watchful eye on their playground adventures. Your child’s security matters!
What Are the Safety Hazards in the Playground?
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Playgrounds can provide hours of fun, laughter, and exercise. They’re a great place for your child to interact with others, develop physical coordination, and enjoy the outdoors. However, they also pose potential safety hazards.
Awareness of these risks will empower you to take preventative measures.
Some of the most common playground safety hazards include:
- Falls:The most common playground injuries are caused by falls. Children may fall off climbing equipment, swings, or slides, and even while running. Inadequate fall surfaces under play equipment are often a contributing factor.
- Improper Equipment: Poorly maintained, outdated, or age-inappropriate equipment can lead to accidents. Children playing on equipment designed for older kids can be particularly risky.
- Entanglement: Kids can get caught in openings on playground equipment. This is particularly true for children wearing drawstrings, scarves, or clothing with cording.
- Tripping: Uneven surfaces or exposed concrete footings are common tripping hazards for children running around a playground.
- Impact: Swings, slides, and other devices can cause injury if a child collides with them or another child while they are in motion.
- Entrapment: Children can get a body part stuck, especially the head, in narrow spaces between rails, ropes, or bars if they are not large enough.
- Small Overcrowded Areas: Playground equipment not spaced properly can lead to overcrowding and result in injuries from tripping or impact.
No matter how careful you are, accidents can and do happen. However, understanding common safety hazards can help you take steps to minimize the risks.
If you notice hazards on the playground, notify your local community council or Consumer Product Safety Commission to avoid most playground injuries.
Tips for Preschoolers Parents
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Preschoolers are full of curiosity and energy, making their playground visits both exciting and a little nerve-wracking for parents. Ensuring their safety doesn’t need to be stressful.
With the help of our practical tips to help keep your little ones safe and happy, you can have an enjoyable and injury-free time at the playground.
Before taking your preschooler to the playground, preparation is key:
- Choosing the right footwear is crucial for preventing the most common playground injury—falls. Sneakers with velcro or slip-on, close-toed shoes are the best choices.
- On a sunny day, it’s also a good idea to lather your toddler with sunscreen. While sunburn isn’t caused by playground equipment, it is a common injury that can be experienced at the park.
- When you arrive at the playground, teach your preschooler how to correctly use the equipment. Safety is learned by example and there’s nobody better to learn it from than a trusted parent or caretaker.
- Teach them to take turns going down slides feet first to avoid crashing into another child.
- On the swings, show your child that they should wait until it has stopped moving before getting off. These are just some examples of how you can teach your preschooler playground safety.
- Lastly, search for playgrounds with age-appropriate equipment and soft surfaces, such as safety-tested rubber and wood chips to protect your child if they fall.
And, of course, don’t forget to put on your little one the smart kids’ watch Pingo Track! With them, you’ll be confident in your child’s safety at any moment! When purchased from the official representative, a Findmykids app license is included as a gift. Don’t miss out!
By following these tips and guidelines, you can create a safe and enjoyable playground experience for your preschooler.
Guideline for Safe Use of Playground Equipment
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When children use playground equipment correctly, they are less likely to have accidents, which can sometimes be severe and lead to visits to hospital emergency rooms. This is definitely not a notification you want to receive on your Findmykids app while your child is with friends or family at the playground.
As a parent or caregiver, your role is vital in educating your child about safety guidelines on the playground and how to properly use playground equipment.
Let’s take a look at some essential rules and guidelines for the safe use of specific playground equipment.
Climbing
Climbing is a favorite activity amongst young children, providing them with an enjoyable challenge while also promoting physical strength and coordination.
However, climbing equipment, such as rock walls, arches, and ladders can pose a risk to injury if not used properly.
When your child is playing on climbing equipment, make sure they follow these safety guidelines:
- Never Climb Too High: Always stay at a height where they feel comfortable.
- Hold Onto Ladder Rungs: Never hold the sides of ladders.
- Keep a Safe Distance: Maintain distance between you and the child in front.
- Stay in Sight: Make sure children are always in your eyesight when climbing.
- Bend Knees When Jumping: When letting go of monkey bars or from climbing, keep your knees bent to avoid injury.
- Ensure Safe Landing Areas: Check that there are soft landing areas under the climbing equipment and that they are free from people before jumping down.
Slides
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Slides are a staple in every playground, providing kids with endless fun and excitement. However, it’s important to ensure safety for your child and others when whizzing down this fun structure.
When using the slide, make sure your children know the following safety guidelines:
- One at a Time: Advise your child to wait until the slide is completely clear before taking their turn to avoid collisions.
- Go Down Feet First: Taking the correct position with feet first and sitting up will avoid head injuries.
- Walk Away After Sliding: Teach the importance of getting off the slide promptly and moving away to avoid being in the way of the next child sliding down.
- No Climbing Up: Slides are designed for going down, not up. Climbing up the slide could result in falls and collisions.
- Check the Bottom: Before sliding down, make sure nobody is at the bottom of the slide.
Seesaw
The seesaw, a classic piece of playground equipment, can bring great joy to your children’s playtime. However, to prevent accidents and ensure a fun, safe experience, it’s important your child follows safety tips and uses the equipment correctly:
- Sit Down Face Forward:Children should sit facing forward while using the seesaw, never backward.
- Ensure Balanced Weight: Children of the same size and weight should use the seesaw together; one should not be significantly lighter than the other.
- Hold the Handles Tightly: Teach your child to hold the handles with both hands.
- Keep Feet to the Sides: Your child should keep both feet to the side of the seesaw and use them to push off the ground.
- Keep Distance When in Use: When someone is using the seesaw, children should keep their distance and never try to touch it or go on or under it.
Why is Playground Safety Important
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Playground safety is a shared responsibility between parents and their children. Everyone has a role to play in keeping the playground a fun and safe place for all.
Examining the playground equipment, ensuring it is in good condition, and teaching your children how to use it properly will help avoid childhood injuries associated with playground equipment.
FAQ
What’s under the playground surfaces?
Playgrounds often put rubber or wood chips under playground equipment to provide a softer landing if a child falls from the equipment or while running around the area.
Cover image: MNStudio/Shutterstock.com
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