Playgrounds are a great outdoor opportunity to support children’s physical and social development. Unfortunately, they’re also the most common location for injuries in Head Start and child care programs. Supervision is a key element of a safe playground. Make sure kids can be seen at all times, including when they’re crawling through tunnels or under a play structure.
Supervision
Supervision is the most important factor in playground safety. It can prevent injuries and help children feel safe while playing. Supervision is especially important for younger children who lack the judgement and coordination to assess risks accurately and safely. It can also reduce bullying, physical conflict and peer-to-peer child sexual abuse.
Plan to have at least one staff member present at all times on the playground. Strategically place them so they have a line of sight to all areas of the play structure and rotate staff frequently to ensure active supervision is achieved throughout the day.
Teach children the rules for 안전놀이터 equipment and enforce them consistently and fairly. Instruct children to always tell a supervisor if they see someone breaking the rules, or if they notice an injury.
Equipment
Climbing structures like net-based climbers, boulder-climbing courses and zip line-type play components give kids a chance to work on their strength, coordination and depth perception while offering a variety of new challenges. With careful design, maintenance and supervision, climbing structures can be a valuable component of any playground, helping children develop cognitively, socially and physically.
However, they can be a major source of injury when they are not properly designed and maintained. For example, a climbing structure that is too high can cause kids to fall from equipment and hurt themselves. The surface underneath the equipment is also important — it should be safe and provide cushioning to soften impact. Some great options include loose-fill solutions, engineered wood fiber, bonded rubber and poured-in-place rubber.
Surface
Falling is inevitable at any playground, but the right surfacing minimizes severe injuries by providing a shock-absorbing surface. Surfacing also helps with accessibility and weather resistance.
There are many options for playground surfaces, including loose-fill materials like sand, wood chips, and mulch. These provide a natural look but require regular inspection to make sure they are at the correct depth to meet safety standards.
Unitary surfaces like poured-in-place and engineered wood fiber offer durability and easy maintenance. Regular inspections for these types of surfacing include looking for rips, tears, and hollow areas. They can also be cleaned using a non-toxic cleaner and should be hosed down to remove dirt and debris. Newer playground surfacing options like wet pour rubber and synthetic turf are able to prevent contact burns by keeping the surface cooler than traditional surfaces.
Critters
Playgrounds are great places to practice problem-solving skills. Kids might run into obstacles they can’t solve on their own, but having trusted adults nearby can help them find ways around or over those obstacles. The Critters franchise is an American science fiction comedy-horror series. It consists of five feature films and a television series.
Kids learn about critters while building fine and gross motor skills. Climbing nets invite fun climbs that build balance and muscles, while retraction points such as the octopus head promote body confidence. Dichroic panels inspire imagination and visual perception, while the hanging pod encourages swaying relaxation. Kids also develop their logical thinking by creating and solving puzzles.
Cleanliness
Cleaning is an essential step in a playground’s maintenance plan. It’s important to sanitize everything a child might touch, crawl on, grab and hold onto or pull or walk across—inside and outside tubes, railings, ladders inside and out, swings and monkey bars, floor mats and so on. A bleach solution is an EPA-approved cleaner that can disinfect surfaces when used according to instructions. The key is to use a disinfectant, not a sanitizer. Sanitizers kill bacteria but not viruses.
Provide plenty of trash receptacles and make sure they are well-maintained. Emptying and rinsing them daily helps prevent trash from attracting bugs, rodents and other unwanted visitors. It also ensures that the surface is clear so children can easily see their way down slides and around equipment.
What’s Next?
A safe playground supports kids’ physical and social development outdoors. However, playgrounds are also the most common place for children to sustain injuries. Playgrounds should have surfacing that absorbs impact and prevents tripping, such as wood chips, sand, or shredded rubber. Equipment should be separated by age ranges and posted accordingly.
