Skinned knees. Bruises. Bumps. While these may all be expected when it comes to children at play, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t minimize their risk as much as possible. And with the school year kicking off, playground safety should be a priority for teachers, parents, and daycare providers.
Not sure how to go about making it as safe as possible? No worries! We’ve got you covered with a collection of helpful tips. Let’s dive in.
Inspect the School Playground Equipment
Before any child sets foot on the playground, you should make sure there are no issues with the school playground equipment. This means checking for damage, grime, loose hardware, and more.
- Loose bolts, rust, cracks, and sharp edges have the potential to cause injury, and should be addressed.
- Swings, slides, and climbing structures should be sturdy and anchored properly.
- If you do come across damaged equipment, leaving it without fixing or replacing it isn’t an option. The children’s safety depends on it.
That’s just the first piece of the playground safety puzzle…
Supervision
Even the safest playground on the planet should still have adult supervision. Kids are kids, and they love to push the limits in the pursuit of fun. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on them as they play. Tell them when something they’re doing is dangerous. React immediately if an injury does occur.
This is especially important around climbing equipment where falls are more likely to happen. And speaking of climbing, kids love to climb on everything, even the stuff that isn’t made for it. Notice someone trying to get on top of the shade structure? A supervised playground will address the issue before an accident takes place.
Establish Playground Rules
Clear, consistent playground rules make for increased playground safety. There are plenty of guidelines to be put in place, but here are a few that we consider non-negotiable:
- Take turns on the equipment.
- Avoid crowding slides, swings, ladders, and walkways.
- Absolutely NO pushing, shoving, or roughhousing.
- Use the school playground equipment only as intended (no running up the slide, for example).
It’s also a great idea to actively encourage the kids themselves to look out for each other. The more people with an eye for safety, the better!
Dress Code
We’re not talking about the same dress code you’ll find within the halls of the school (though those should be adhered to, as well). What we want to emphasize here is the dress code that maximizes safety.
Children should only wear closed-toe shoes that have good grip to protect extremities and avoid slips. Drawstrings, scarves, and loose-fitting clothing should be left out of the equation, as well.
But falls and other injuries caused by clothing are only part of the issue. The sun may feel great, but it’s also a hazard if you’re not careful. Encourage the use of hats and sunscreen to protect from overexposure to harmful UV rays while on the playground.
Weather & Surface Checks
We’ve already gone over inspections to identify damaged equipment, but they should also be carried out following inclement weather such as rain or even snow in the winter.
- Check for remaining wet spots, ice, and puddles that could cause slips and falls.
- When the sun is particularly hot, make sure the equipment is cool enough to play on (especially any metal pieces).
- Make sure the playground has impact-absorbing safety surfacing to soften falls should they occur.
Partnering for Safety
Having a supervisor keeping an eye on playground safety is good. Having an entire group making an effort to maximize safety is infinitely better. When you encourage communication between everyone responsible for child care (parents, teachers, and staff), the children at play are much less likely to experience an accident.
Notice any broken equipment? It needs to be repaired or replaced immediately. Report it to administration right away so it can be addressed. This is much easier when multiple people are involved in supervision. Someone needs to notify the proper people of the issue, while supervision is maintained on the children and access to the piece of equipment in question is restricted.
Prepped for Play!
Playgrounds are great places for kids to have fun and make friends (all while developing skills behind the scenes). It’s our responsibility to ensure these adventurous havens are safe for use at all times, and they’ll see plenty of use during the school year!
The tips above will increase playground safety tenfold. If you have any further questions (or if you’ve decided it’s time for new equipment), get in touch with us at Metro Recreation. We’ve been in the business for decades, and we’re happy to help your school provide safety for every kid who wants to have some fun!
