The playground can be a great place for kids to play, but it’s also a site of many hazards. Playground equipment though it is very fun to play on can sometimes pose injury risk if not used properly. It can also be an area where the kids get into all sorts of trouble. To ensure everyone’s safety, some simple rules and guidelines can help you make the playground a safer place for your children to play.
1. By Ensuring That Every Child Gets a Turn
Sometimes kids will be impatient waiting for their turn. That can lead to arguments that can escalate into fights. The easiest and most effective way to avoid this is simply by making them take turns. Facilitating them taking turns will lead to them learning the concept of being patient and waiting their turn, and can be a skill that will be helpful for the child in later years. Additionally, this way, no one ends up feeling left out because everyone has an equal number of turns.
2. By Making Sure That the Playground Equipment Is Used Correctly
This is a huge problem. Using playground equipment wrong can result in serious injury. There are several different rules when it comes to equipment, and those involve basic guidelines such as the slide’s height and who is the correct size to use the corresponding slide, the proper way to use specific equipment, and ensuring that it is appropriately used at all times.
3. Through Preventing Accidents
Having an adult supervisor on the playground is essential to ensuring safety. Something serious could happen without someone watching over the children and ensuring they don’t get hurt. It’s better to have an adult who can ensure everything is done correctly and being on the lookout for kids engaging in dangerous play while on the playground. Also, parents should talk to their children before they go out on the playground. Set basic ground rules for safe modes of play while on the playground and then guide them as they actually engage in play.
4. By Making It Fun
While the rules and guidelines are there to keep kids safe, it’s also crucial that they have fun. Kids learn best by having fun, and if they aren’t able to have fun playing on the playground, they are likely to sneak off or try and play somewhere else where there aren’t any rules or guidelines. It’s essential to keep them safe without stifling their fun. This can be done by rewarding them for good behavior with stickers, prizes, or treats.
5. Making Sure Everyone Washes Their Hands
Kids get dirty when they play, and that’s to be expected. One of the most important things you can do is ensure their hands are washed before they start on their snack. While dirt and grime might not be harmful, there are still germs on their hands from the playground, which need to be washed away. It will also keep them from getting sick.
6. Ensuring The Children Play on Age-Appropriate Equipment
Your local park department will have a list of the appropriate equipment for your children’s ages. Make sure to stick to those rules because there are children who are younger than the age you think they are. They can easily slip through and play on equipment meant for older kids. Thus leading to injury.
There are many different rules and guidelines that need to be followed when it comes to the playground. It’s a common place for kids to play, but also one of the most dangerous. From monkey bars to playground equipment, many dangers are lurking in an average playground. The simplest way to ensure safety is just by maintaining a few simple rules and guidelines that will keep everyone safe and happy.
