By the time your child is a preschooler, it’s likely that he or she will love nothing more than the challenges that they playground present. However, while they’re usually a great place for your child to test and hone skills like running, climbing and jumping, there are a few safety hazards you should look out for.
First and foremost, make sure that your child is always supervised. Accidents can happen anywhere, at any time, and even spaces like playgrounds that are designed for children are never completely safe.
Avoid any equipment with sharp edges, corners or points, or where sheet metal has not been rolled along the edges. Look out for splinters on wooden equipment, and be wary of steel slides on hot summer days – they can heat up very quickly.
Cables or wires should not be present in areas where children could trip, and large tree stumps and rocks should not be present in playgrounds.
Any openings should be either too wide for a child to get a foot, or his or her head, trapped in them, or too narrow for them to fit.
All equipment should be bolted down securely, or cast into concrete. Playground equipment that moves is a major hazard!
Another common problem is that the surface of the playground is too hard. Concrete and tar are not good choices for playground surfacing. Look for grass, fine gravel or bark surfacing to prevent injuries from falls.
When you do take your child to the playground, also make sure that he or she is dressed for the occasion. Any loose threads, ribbons or even shoe laces can get hooked on equipment, for instance. You also want to avoid clothes that are too loose, and may get snagged or caught. Dresses on girls can cause problems on slides (exposing skin which grips too much), so use trousers for better fun!
Make sure that your child sticks to the equipment that’s designed for his or her age group. For instance, jungle gyms and climbing equipment should not be used by children under six.
If you do notice any problem with the playgrounds that you and your child visit, make sure you report it to the right people. That may be the local council, a church or a school. Whoever it is, by making sure that they know about any problems, you can help make the playground safer for your child, and for others.
First and foremost, make sure that your child is always supervised. Accidents can happen anywhere, at any time, and even spaces like playgrounds that are designed for children are never completely safe.
Avoid any equipment with sharp edges, corners or points, or where sheet metal has not been rolled along the edges. Look out for splinters on wooden equipment, and be wary of steel slides on hot summer days – they can heat up very quickly.
Cables or wires should not be present in areas where children could trip, and large tree stumps and rocks should not be present in playgrounds.
Any openings should be either too wide for a child to get a foot, or his or her head, trapped in them, or too narrow for them to fit.
All equipment should be bolted down securely, or cast into concrete. Playground equipment that moves is a major hazard!
Another common problem is that the surface of the playground is too hard. Concrete and tar are not good choices for playground surfacing. Look for grass, fine gravel or bark surfacing to prevent injuries from falls.
When you do take your child to the playground, also make sure that he or she is dressed for the occasion. Any loose threads, ribbons or even shoe laces can get hooked on equipment, for instance. You also want to avoid clothes that are too loose, and may get snagged or caught. Dresses on girls can cause problems on slides (exposing skin which grips too much), so use trousers for better fun!
Make sure that your child sticks to the equipment that’s designed for his or her age group. For instance, jungle gyms and climbing equipment should not be used by children under six.
If you do notice any problem with the playgrounds that you and your child visit, make sure you report it to the right people. That may be the local council, a church or a school. Whoever it is, by making sure that they know about any problems, you can help make the playground safer for your child, and for others.
