How do I know that my children's play equipment is safe?
Safe play spaces help prevent children from getting hurt. Adult supervision and
clear rules are two parts of keeping play areas safe. Good playground design is the other.
Here are some ways you can tell if your children's play space is safe:
- Is the surface under and around the equipment made of dry, loose material?
- Are pieces of equipment at least 1.8 meters away from each other? This prevents children
from falling off one piece and hitting another.
- Does the play equipment have guardrails and barriers to prevent children from falling?
- Are playground structures a safe height (no higher than 2.1 meters)?
- Are there any spaces on the play equipment where the children can become trapped. Be
sure all spaces are either smaller than 8.9 centimeters, or larger than 22.9 centimeters
around.
- Are there any areas where children can pinch or crush their fingers? They could also
catch their drawstrings or scarves in these spaces.
- Is the play area away from traffic?
- Is the equipment in good condition? Things you should look for include:
- splinters
- cracking
- rust
- sharp edges
- chipped paint
Using the above list will help to ensure a safe day. In addition, remember to keep a
close eye on your kids, and make sure they follow your rules about how to play safely.
Last Modified Date: March 2004
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