No child can stay cooped up inside all the time. While it is easier to monitor your children while they are in your house, it is neither healthy nor realistic to restrict them to staying inside. All children need time in the outdoors, at a park or a playground where they can meet and interact with other kids. However, there are some safety concerns to think about, especially with playground equipment like swing sets, teeter totters, and slides. The are lots of things to keep in mind when assessing the safety of a playground. Here are some things to consider.
1. Make sure that there is enough adult supervision. Ideally, you should be able to watch your child while he or she plays. But if you are unable to do this, make sure another adult you trust is there to supervise. If there are many children in your neighborhood who regularly use the playground, you could organize a schedule where all of the parents share responsibility for doing this.
2. Be familiar with the playground structure and potential problems. Even when children are always supervised, there are usually some areas of a playground that are hidden or obscured from view. All of the adults who spend time watching the children should be familiar with these areas, and should be sure to move around the playground rather than sitting in one spot.
3. Ensuring equipment maintenance. Someone should be checking regularly for rusty chain links or screws, so that the equipment does not suddenly fall apart while a child is playing on it. Make sure that this is done regularly and not neglected.
4. Ensure that problems get resolved. These safety issues mentioned above, as well as aesthetic issues like peeling paint and rust, should be taken care of quickly. The more the playground is used, the more often they will arise, and someone should be on the lookout.
5. Assess the safety of the areas surrounding swing sets, slides, see-saws, etc. Not every playground can afford to put down the popular foam cushioning that several of them have. If your playground does not have this, make sure the dirt around the equipment is safe and free of large or jagged rocks. Planting grass can also be helpful.
6. Know who is in charge. Is the playground owned by a school? Does a private organization control it? Is it maintained by the town parks and recreation department? Get in touch with the people in charge. Find out what help they need in maintaining the playground, whether it is fundraising or something else.
Every child, regardless of where they live or how much money their family has, deserves to have a safe and fun place to play outside. No child should have to play among rusty swing sets and broken teeter totters. Creating a safe playground in your neighborhood may take some effort. It may require making phone calls, attending meetings, and rallying other parents who have the same concerns. It may even require getting your own hands dirty and making some of the necessary changes yourself. All of this is worthwhile if it enhances the safety and happiness of your child and other children in your neighborhood.
1. Make sure that there is enough adult supervision. Ideally, you should be able to watch your child while he or she plays. But if you are unable to do this, make sure another adult you trust is there to supervise. If there are many children in your neighborhood who regularly use the playground, you could organize a schedule where all of the parents share responsibility for doing this.
2. Be familiar with the playground structure and potential problems. Even when children are always supervised, there are usually some areas of a playground that are hidden or obscured from view. All of the adults who spend time watching the children should be familiar with these areas, and should be sure to move around the playground rather than sitting in one spot.
3. Ensuring equipment maintenance. Someone should be checking regularly for rusty chain links or screws, so that the equipment does not suddenly fall apart while a child is playing on it. Make sure that this is done regularly and not neglected.
4. Ensure that problems get resolved. These safety issues mentioned above, as well as aesthetic issues like peeling paint and rust, should be taken care of quickly. The more the playground is used, the more often they will arise, and someone should be on the lookout.
5. Assess the safety of the areas surrounding swing sets, slides, see-saws, etc. Not every playground can afford to put down the popular foam cushioning that several of them have. If your playground does not have this, make sure the dirt around the equipment is safe and free of large or jagged rocks. Planting grass can also be helpful.
6. Know who is in charge. Is the playground owned by a school? Does a private organization control it? Is it maintained by the town parks and recreation department? Get in touch with the people in charge. Find out what help they need in maintaining the playground, whether it is fundraising or something else.
Every child, regardless of where they live or how much money their family has, deserves to have a safe and fun place to play outside. No child should have to play among rusty swing sets and broken teeter totters. Creating a safe playground in your neighborhood may take some effort. It may require making phone calls, attending meetings, and rallying other parents who have the same concerns. It may even require getting your own hands dirty and making some of the necessary changes yourself. All of this is worthwhile if it enhances the safety and happiness of your child and other children in your neighborhood.
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