It is that time of year again when families begin to enjoy much of their free time outdoors. This often involves playing on playground equipment in public parks or backyard play areas. In 2009 alone, more than 230,000 children visited hospital emergency rooms due to playground-related injuries. We do not want your child to be one of them! Injury prevention is the key.
Below is a list of several playground safety tips that can help you keep your child’s play area as safe as possible. More information can be found at these excellent resources:
www.healthychildren.org and www.nsc.org (National Safety Council).
General Structure:
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Make sure your equipment is age-appropriate and size-appropriate. Structures designed for toddlers may break under the weight of older kids. Ideally, children less than five should use equipment separate from those meant for school-age children.
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Wooden play structures should be made of all-weather wood to prevent splintering.
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Inspect for safety hazards such as protruding bolts, loose nuts, or anything that can hook onto children’s clothing.
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Ensure loose-fill surfacing—such as pea gravel, wood chips mulch, sand, rubber mulch, or shredded tires—is used beneath equipment. Grass, asphalt, or concrete are too hard and can cause injuries. The shock-absorbing surface should be at least 12 inches deep with a 6-foot use zone in all directions.
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Maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet from structures to fences or walls.
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Never attach ropes, jump ropes, or leashes to equipment. These can cause strangulation.
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Always provide adult supervision when children use any playground equipment.
Slides:
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Place slides in the shade or out of direct sunlight to prevent burns.
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Look for platforms with handrails and a hood or bar at the top to encourage proper safe play posture.
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Ensure open slides have 4-inch-high sides.
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Avoid drawstrings on clothing as they can get caught, especially on slides.
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Teach children to climb using the ladder only, wait their turn, and exit promptly at the bottom.
Swings:
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Swings should be made of shock-absorbing materials such as rubber, canvas, or soft plastic.
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Only allow one child per swing.
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Keep two swings per structure, spaced at least 24 inches apart and 30 inches from the frame.
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For younger children, full bucket seats offer the safest option.
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Kids should stay clear of swinging areas when not in use.
Climbing Equipment and Monkey Bars:
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Rungs and steps should be evenly spaced; round rungs should measure 1–1.5 inches in diameter for a secure grip.
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Install guardrails—minimum 29 inches high for preschoolers and 38 inches for school-aged children.
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Openings between rails or rungs should be less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches to avoid entrapment.
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Make sure all climbing structures, like monkey bars, are inspected regularly for signs of wear or rust.
Trampolines: Not for Backyard Playgrounds
Trampolines cause about 100,000 injuries yearly, and up to 30% of those result in serious fractures requiring hospitalization or surgery. Even with netting, padding, and supervision, they are not safe for general children’s play. The American Academy of Pediatrics and our team at Complete Children’s Health strongly recommend that trampolines not be included in home or public playgrounds.
Trampolines should only be used in supervised, structured training programs like gymnastics or diving. Instead, explore safe outdoor play alternatives: walking, biking, swimming, or playing catch as a family.
Final Playground Safety Tips
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Perform a playground safety checklist monthly.
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Look out for tripping hazards, exposed concrete footings, and unsafe playground equipment.
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Encourage children’s use of age-appropriate equipment to help reduce injuries.
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Advocate for safe playground designs that align with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ADA guidelines, and Centers for Disease Control recommendations.
We hope you’ll use these basic safety tips and tools to ensure your child’s outdoor play area is both fun and safe. At Complete Children’s Health, our mission is to keep children safe and help families build lasting healthy habits from early childhood onward.
Have a safe and wonderful summer!