National Playground Safety Week
- Brandon Bain
- Apr 26, 2017
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 8, 2024
Now that we are well into Spring and warmer days are upon us, more kids will be playing outdoors. Parents and guardians will find themselves frequenting public parks while teachers and administrators will find themselves keeping watchful eyes as students actively spend recess and/or lunch on the playground.
Since this week is National Playground Safety Week, it’s a good time to review safety tips, assess playground equipment, and talk to children about playground safety.
Although playgrounds have certainly improved since our days, a recent study by the CDC found that emergency departments still see more than 20,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related traumatic brain injury each year. Below are some tips and suggestions schools can consider.
Tips for playground safety:
Actively supervise children at all times.
Encourage children to follow playground rules and play safely with other children. Shoving, crowding, and pushing should be discouraged. Although playful wrestling may be fun for some children, these types of activities should be avoided while on top of a play structure.
Dress children appropriately for playground play. Avoid items that can cause strangulation like scarves, necklaces, and purses.
Use playgrounds that are age-appropriate. Having separate age-appropriate areas can help prevent accidental injuries.
Take children to playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces like rubber, grass, sand, wood chips, or synthetic turf.
Conduct periodical assessments of playgrounds by following the S.A.F.E framework.
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If you feel a playground is unsafe, report your concerns to the owner, park district, or school district. And remember to always keep a watchful eye on children.
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