<t>With the weather warming up outside, more and more kids and parents are heading out to their local parks. It’s a good chance for little ones to run around and work off their abundant energy (energy I wouldn’t mind having) and to meet and play with other kids their age.<br/>
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Playgrounds are a great resource for many parents, but there are risks involved. Every year more than 200,000 kids are treated in the ER for playground-related injuries. Many of these injuries could have been prevented.<br/>
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With a few precautions in place, each trip to the playground can be not only fun, but safe. <br/>
<br/>
Adult supervision is probably the most important thing a parent can do when it comes to preventing accidents. As tempting as it is to sit down, read a book, and bask in a few moments of peace, the playground may not always be the best place to do this. A wide variety of age groups will likely play together; with older kids testing their boundaries and younger kids still learning to walk, accidents are bound to happen.<br/>
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Inspect the equipment. Make sure that it is free of debris and is on a soft play area with either rubber mats or wood chips. Check that there are no screws, nuts, or bolts sticking out and that the equipment is appropriate for the age of your child. Many playgrounds have designated areas for different age groups. If yours doesn’t, then you will need to pay closer attention. Look at things like guardrails; they should measure 3 ½ inches apart or wider than 9 inches. As a kid who was prone to getting her head stuck in things, I see the value here. <br/>
<br/>
Teach your children some playground etiquette. Ideally kids would have perfect manners, but let’s be realistic here; they are children and in the heat of the moment, logic goes by the wayside. A few basic reminders before play begins should be enough to make sure things go as smoothly as possible. For example, no rough housing, be cautious of others around you, respect personal space, tell a parent or trusted adult if something goes wrong. This is a learning curves for little ones, but the older ones should be able to handle it.<br/>
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Once the hard work is out of the way, have fun and don’t forget the sunscreen.</t>
<br/>
Playgrounds are a great resource for many parents, but there are risks involved. Every year more than 200,000 kids are treated in the ER for playground-related injuries. Many of these injuries could have been prevented.<br/>
<br/>
With a few precautions in place, each trip to the playground can be not only fun, but safe. <br/>
<br/>
Adult supervision is probably the most important thing a parent can do when it comes to preventing accidents. As tempting as it is to sit down, read a book, and bask in a few moments of peace, the playground may not always be the best place to do this. A wide variety of age groups will likely play together; with older kids testing their boundaries and younger kids still learning to walk, accidents are bound to happen.<br/>
<br/>
Inspect the equipment. Make sure that it is free of debris and is on a soft play area with either rubber mats or wood chips. Check that there are no screws, nuts, or bolts sticking out and that the equipment is appropriate for the age of your child. Many playgrounds have designated areas for different age groups. If yours doesn’t, then you will need to pay closer attention. Look at things like guardrails; they should measure 3 ½ inches apart or wider than 9 inches. As a kid who was prone to getting her head stuck in things, I see the value here. <br/>
<br/>
Teach your children some playground etiquette. Ideally kids would have perfect manners, but let’s be realistic here; they are children and in the heat of the moment, logic goes by the wayside. A few basic reminders before play begins should be enough to make sure things go as smoothly as possible. For example, no rough housing, be cautious of others around you, respect personal space, tell a parent or trusted adult if something goes wrong. This is a learning curves for little ones, but the older ones should be able to handle it.<br/>
<br/>
Once the hard work is out of the way, have fun and don’t forget the sunscreen.</t>
