Having a Rainbow Play System opens up a whole new world for children, whether their imaginations turn it into a pirate ship or a princess castle. For parents, though, a play set opens up new anxieties. Keep these five tips in mind to ease your worries and help keep your family safe during outdoor play.
Area
The biggest key for play set safety is the location of the equipment. Even if your yard can technically hold a play set, you’ll want at least six feet of open space on all sides, to allow for jumps, falls, and general roughhousing. Check this area regularly for rocks, sticks, dips, and other tripping hazards. Kids aren’t always aware of where their feet are going, so make sure the ground is clear.
Surfacing
In the same area around your play set, six feet per side, lay down protective surfacing, such as rubber tiles, wood mulch, or sand. Hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete are risky, and even grass is too hard to break a fall from any height. Of course, you’ll still want to caution children to be careful, even with a softer landing.
Equipment
Quality play sets are built to last, but the wear and tear of rambunctious kids and the ferocity of nature can take their toll. Periodically examine all the equipment on your backyard structure: make sure anchors are secure, joints are tight, and nothing is loose or rusting. It’s always better to catch a problem before it becomes an accident.
Cords
A major rule to convey to any kids playing on your play set is to never attach ropes, leashes, or any other kind of cord to the equipment. Tripping and strangulation are both serious risks. Another often unnoticed hazard comes from children’s clothing. Hoods and drawstrings can catch on swings, or get caught between sections of equipment, and restrict breathing.
Supervision
Though it’s tempting to send kids out into the backyard to get their energy out, you should still keep an eye on them. Supervision is vital to safety; when you can see a dangerous situation, you can head it off before it turns into an accident. Every child is ready for different levels of independence at different ages, but never leave your kids out of sight for an extended period of time.
HOMEFIELD carries quality family friendly outdoor play brands such as Rainbow Play Systems, Springfree Trampoline and Goalsetter Basketball In Ground Systems. Stop by one of two showrooms in New Braunfels or Corpus Christi and choose your (safe) summer fun!
