Playgrounds: Keeping Outdoor Learning Safe
With summer approaching, young children will be eager to take more of their
educational play outside. Parents and teachers may use these tips to promote
playground safety and provide children with an outdoor environment that helps
them learn and enjoy.
The same rules apply to indoor and outdoor environments: settings should
allow children to work or play individually, together in small groups, or in
large groups. Children should have enough room to move freely and safely from
one activity to another. NAEYC Accreditation Criteria and Procedures of the
National Academy of Early Childhood Programs requires a minimum of 75 square
feet of play space outdoors per child. The required amount of outdoor space is
indicated by the number of children using the space at one time.
These six keys to playground safety will help you ensure that children get
the most from their outdoor learning and playing space.
- Children are carefully supervised. The play area should be monitored by
adults with a knowledge of injury prevention and first aid. Their responsibilities
include scanning equipment, gates, and surfaces before children enter to check for
stray animals, broken objects, or other hazards. Adults should set reasonable,
appropriate rules for what children may do, such as sit down on the slide or wear
sneakers to climb on monkey bars. Small groups of children and enough adults is just
as important outdoors as it is indoors to make sure children get the attention and
supervision they need.
- The space arrangement adds to children's safety. Play areas should be
inaccessible to streets, standing water, and other hazards. Natural boundaries or
fences help keep children from wandering off and unwanted visitors from entering.
Equipment should be designed for a range of ages and abilities, and it
should be installed with safety in mind. For instance, equipment that moves
requires lots of surrounding space. Children should never be able to ram into
one piece of equipment from another or fall into a barrier. In a carefully
constructed environment, children are able to roam between activities without
getting into playground traffic jams.
- Equipment is sturdy and engineered for safety. The placement, size, height
and complexity of equipment must be tailored to the children who use it. For example,
climbing equipment should not be taller than the children who climb. Look for:
- Foundation anchors firmly embedded in the ground so children won't trip on them.
- Merry-go-rounds with solid, flat riding surfaces and handholds for quiet sitters and
brave standers.
- Slides with large decks and hand rails at the top.
- Swings placed 2 to 3 feet apart to reduce chances of mid-air collisions.
- Landing surfaces are resilient. Playground equipment should never be placed
on concrete or asphalt. Choose a material that is impact-absorbing to cover all areas
where children may jump or fall. Installing resilient surfaces under these danger zones
can prevent playground injuries, a third of which occur as a result of falls.
- Routine maintenance is scheduled and budgeted. Parts of equipment that move
should be checked and repaired regularly. Beware of open hooks, sharp edges, or missing
points. Surfaces underneath play equipment should be replenished or raked so that a depth
of 8 to 12 inches is always maintained. Participating in routine maintenance and clean-up
activities with adults will help children learn to take on responsibility.
- Appropriate choices are offered. Children's bodies are at work when they play
outdoors, and they are ripe to practice and learn new skills. Equipment that moves allows
children to create their own action and encourages role playing. Playgrounds that are
carefully designed, supervised, and maintained will help promote physical development,
encourage friendships, and set the stage for learning about the world.
Resources:
"Playgrounds: Safe & Sound." 1990. NAEYC #552. 50¢ each/100 for $10.
Rivkin, M.S. 1995. The great outdoors: Restoring children's right to play outside. NAEYC #108/ $8.
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