Top 4 Playground Techniques to Keep Children Safe

Playgrounds are vital since they foster kids’ growth, socialization, and skill development. So, creating a safe place for kids to play, whether you run a park, a school, or a daycare, is vital. There are various things that contribute to a safe playground, such that you and the parents will not worry about getting the kids hurt. 

It is crucial to ensure safety standards when designing a playground. Kids get excited when playing and want to explore colorful places. If you design an unsafe playground, you might have to deal with cases of injuries often. Therefore, you must confirm the kids’ safety. Luckily, you can incorporate various design techniques to improve safety and prevent injuries. 

Safe Surfaces

Children tend to fall a lot when playing. They are all excited, and all they think of is jumping into the following structure. Therefore, it is vital to pay attention to the structures in the playground. Before anything else, choose eco-friendly commercial playground equipment to reduce the chances of injuries. The best surfaces include shredded rubber, rubber mats, mulch, wood chips, and plastic to prevent rust. Avoid building your playground with hard surfaces like grass, concrete, asphalt, and rocks. So, choose suitable surfaces and equipment for safety. Reduce the height of equipment and increase the depth of the protective surface for better protection. 

Inspection and Maintenance

Playground equipment inspection and maintenance are critical for safety. Equipment goes through wear and tear, and it may become defective with time. So, keep the playground safe by inspecting it to identify and fix any damages. You also need to apply maintenance practices to prolong the life of the equipment. If you have to replace any parts, get instructions from the manufacturers or hire professionals to do the job. 

Signs

It is also crucial to have playground signs that warn kids of dangers like hot equipment from sun exposure and signs that point out age-appropriate structures. Make sure there is signage to indicate playground rules, contact information in case parents need help, and park hours. You can customize the signs with different bright colors to make them exciting. It can also be a good idea to include educational signs that teach kids how to use specific equipment.

Design and Space

Part of building a playground is choosing the location. Ensure ample space for the equipment so you can extend the design. Consider close-by hazards, drainage, accessibility, sun exposure, and age appropriateness when designing the playground. Ensuring safety means designing the playground to suit the needs of the children based on their ages. You can separate equipment based on age so kids can play with the right equipment without injuries. For instance, designate short climbing equipment and bucket-seat swings for kids below two years, merry-go-round and slides for kids up to 5 years, stairways, ladders, climbers, and swings for kids between 5 and 12 years.

Conclusion

Children and parents benefit a lot from outdoor play activities. However, knowing everyone is safe is the only way to be happy. Since kids are hyperactive, it is crucial to take extra caution when designing the playground to make it safe for the kids. This way, everyone will be happy, and you and the parents will have peace of mind.

Samantha

Samantha hails from Virginia and is a proud wife to a retired Deputy Sheriff and mother to two amazing little boys named Jack & William. A veteran product reviewer; Samantha has been reviewing products for 8 years and offers high quality product reviews with original photography.