How to keep children safe on playgrounds

by Austin Stanfel Building a Foundation for the Future

Childhood reminds us of the times when we used to be free and did not have much on our heads to do. For children, the freedom of playing on their own on a playground is an incredible feeling indeed.

Even today, playground equipment for schools hold a special place in the hearts of children all over the globe. They offer the children a place where they can let all their aggression out and just be themselves.

As adults, however, it is our job to ensure that the playgrounds that children play in are safe. There are several benefits of playgrounds, indeed. However, playgrounds also pose several hazardous conditions that can be harmful to children. These conditions can often result in injuries, many of which are irreversible in extreme circumstances.

One of the most common reasons for injuries on the playground is damaged or unsafe playground equipment. Due to mother nature's extreme weather surprises, playground equipment is susceptible to getting damaged. For instance, it may get rusty over time, and pointy ends may form due to deformation.

Hence, as adults, it is our responsibility to check on the playground equipment regularly. In case a fault or a hazardous condition is observed, it should be reported immediately; in fact, it is a public playground. In case the playground is built in the backyard, the playground equipment should be discarded or replaced right away. This is because you would certainly not want your children to put themselves in danger.

Loose playground structures also tend to pose a significant risk. Where, on the one hand, it is easy to spot playground equipment that is entirely broken, it is not easy to figure out if the equipment is lost. You only figure that out until it is too late for you to do anything. By this time, your child may end up getting injured already.

The ground surface is yet another ignored aspect of playgrounds that adults should consider. Even if the preschool playground equipment above the ground is safe, the field itself may pose a hazard in case it is hard. This is because upon falling, the child could injure his head or bones resulting in a fracture. At times, it can also lead to fatal accidents. On the other hand, a proper soft ground reduces the chances of injury and limits the severity of injuries in case an accident does occur.

Apart from the condition of the playground itself, it is also imperative to check the conditions of the weather. Regardless of the weather conditions, children will always want to play outside in a playground. However, in case it is too hot or too cold, your child may end up running into several health risks. In case you own a smartphone, you will immediately get weather forecasts and temperature conditions. Using these to the best of your judgment, decide if it is safe for your children to go out in a particular weather condition.