Here are some things to look out for when inspecting the playground. Safety should always be your priority when it comes to children’s playground equipment. No one likes to think of accidents happening, but they can. By following these tips below, you can help protect your children from some of the hidden hazards that may come with playing on the playground.
Dress appropriately
Before going to your local playground, it’s important to think about what the weather will be like that day, that way your children won’t become too hot or too cold when playing. Another thing to think about is wearing the right shoes for playing on the playground. Fancy shoes may look nice, but it could lead to them falling and possibly hurting themselves; that’s why running shoes are perfect for the playground.
Inspect the playground
When getting to the playground, you should do a few things before letting your child or children go and play, especially if it’s a new playground for your family. Here are some things to look out for when inspecting the playground.
Surface Beneath the Playground
When it comes to playgrounds, falls can happen. That’s why it’s so essential for playgrounds to have certain surfaces beneath them to help protect children from getting too hurt when falling. Playgrounds with surfaces like concrete, asphalt, dirt, gravel or grass should be avoided as they can harm children. The recommended surfaces for the playground are sand, wood chips, mulch, and shredded rubber.
Playground Condition
When it comes to playground equipment, it must be properly maintained so that it remains in good condition. A playground that isn’t in good condition is unsafe for children, so look out for damaged playground equipment like the swing seats or slides—splintering wood or sharp metal on frames. Anything that could cause harm to your children.
Temperature
If you have a playground with lots of metal or plastic, it could burn or harm your child if they touch it on a hot day. Whenever there is a hot day, go and touch the plastic or metal to ensure that it isn’t too hot for your littles to handle.
Supervision
Whether your children are toddlers or older, it’s important to supervise all children actively. By ensuring that you are watching your children, you can help prevent accidents from happening and prevent roughhousing like pushing or shoving, or preventing your children from using the equipment the wrong way, like climbing up the slides or jumping off the swings.
Age appropriate equipment
Playgrounds come in all shapes and sizes and are even can only be for specific age groups. If you have a younger child like a toddler, it’s important that they stay on the toddler equipment and not the equipment made for the older children. The same goes for older children; they shouldn’t be on the toddler equipment as they play differently.
With all these safety tips, you will be able to find those hidden hazards of the playground and keep your children safe and happy.
Are you interested in building a custom playground? Contact SPI Plastics today.