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Playgrounds: Keeping Outdoor Learning Safe |
CreditsSourceNAEYC ForumsHealth, Safety, Nutrition and KidsRelated ArticlesNRPA- Home and Public Playground Safety TipsNRPA- Playground Safety Is Everybody's Responsibility 
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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. 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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:
4. 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. 5. 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. 6. 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. For more information, contact:National Association for the Education of Young Children CreditsCopyright © 1996 by National Association for the Education of Young Children. Back to the Top |