Playgrounds help the children to promote their overall growth, but they may cause some serious injuries if not equipped with right kind of play equipment. It is therefore the responsibility of parents to provide their children a safe and danger-free play environment. Read on to know some steps, the parents should take to ensure the safety of their kids in playground.
Children are naturally drawn to outdoor play activities. What attracts them to come outdoor is the special kind of freedom to run, jump, and do other playful activities with same age kids. They come out and play with various equipment, designed according to their age, ability level and play needs. These provides them a great opportunity for physical exercise, learn new skills, challenge one's ability, and interact with peers. That is why outdoor playgrounds have always been a popular place for children of all ages.
Children's safety is of great concern when they play in a ground. Many times, they fall down and get injured. They usually pay a little or no attention to protect themselves from injuries. It is therefore the responsibility of parents to take care of them providing safe and danger-free playground and equipment. Although the risk can't be eliminated completely, it can be reduced to a great extent providing safe play environment. Following are some steps, the parents should take to ensure the safety of their kids while playing in the ground.
Supervision for Safety
Supervision plays vital role to reduce the risks of playground injuries. If the children are given proper instructions on how to use the play equipment, there will be less chances of getting them injured. Supervision from an expert or parent can make the kids involved in the play activities that suit their physical ability and age. For preschool kids, supervision is highly essential, not only to keep them safe but also to teach them the use of equipment.
Age-appropriate Design
Lack of attention to age-appropriate design is a major contributing factor to playground injuries. Both the play area and equipment should be developed in accordance to the age of the children who are likely to play with them. While selecting the play equipment, it is strongly advised to check them properly. Make it sure that they have no sharp point, corner and edge that can injure the children by entrapping their body parts. In addition to ensure children's safety, an appropriately sized equipment serves children's developmental needs.
Appropriate Surfacing
More than seventy percent of playground injuries are due to fall on grounds. So, providing appropriate surfacing is another recommendation to prevent the children from injuries during outdoor play. Children usually tend to fall from equipment that may result in serious head injuries. To reduce these injuries, adequate surfacing materials should be installed and maintained. Surface materials such as asphalt, concrete and grass should be avoided. Rubber mulch is considered the most suitable material to use for playground surfacing.
Thus, a well-developed playground with right kind of equipment is essential to avoid the playground injuries and promote the overall growth of your kids. While purchasing the equipment, you should keep children's safety on priority, and select the pieces that meet the standard safety norms. Go online and find a reliable supplier of quality play equipment for outdoor playground. Now, you can purchase the right kind of playground equipment as per your buying criteria.
The writer of this article is currently associated with AAAStateofPlay, a reputed online store where you can purchase outdoor equipment such as picnic tables and outdoor play equipment.